Borussia Dortmund players bypassed the visitor dressing room showers entirely after their Champions League fixture in Azerbaijan on October 22, 2026, boarding their team bus still in their match kit and sweaty to wash at their hotel, Corriere della Sera reported. The unusual post-match departure from the Olympic Stadium in Baku followed a 2-1 victory over Sabah FK and mirrored a precaution taken the previous day after the team’s final training session. While Kovac was in a press conference and some players underwent doping tests, the rest of the squad hurried away.

Kovac Confirms Internal Directive on Facility Use

Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac addressed the post-match protocol during his media duties, confirming that the decision to forgo the stadium facilities was intentional rather than an accident. “We were told not to shower here, but at the hotel.” Kovac added: “Non abbiamo fatto la doccia qui nemmeno ieri dopo l’allenamento. Ci era stato detto di non farla qui ma in hotel.”

Sport director Nils-Ole Book offered a more diplomatic explanation, suggesting the hotel amenities simply offered a more comfortable environment. “I think the hotel showers were a bit more inviting,” Book said, before adding that the stadium shower area did not match the elegance of their accommodations. When asked to elaborate, Book noted: “Più invitanti, potete immaginare. L’area docce qui non è esattamente bella quanto in hotel.” He also mentioned that the team wanted the players to return as quickly as possible. In addition, staying at the hotel allowed the club to use the spa area for recovery.

Concerns Over Water Systems Prompt Precautions

German newspaper Bild reported that the primary driver behind the club’s departure was a preventative measure against potential Legionella bacteria contamination within the stadium’s plumbing. The water-borne pathogen thrives in stagnant pipes and can trigger severe respiratory infections when inhaled through mist or micro-droplets generated by shower heads. Neither club nor stadium officials confirmed an official contamination finding, but the German side chose to bypass the venue’s water system entirely.

Sabah FK forward Joy-Lance Mickels expressed surprise at the circulating reports regarding the facility conditions. “I don’t know what the problem is, I don’t want to accuse Dortmund of anything,” Mickels said Sky Sport. “We showered right there last week before the match against Slavia Prague. Le docce sono perfette, non manca nemmeno l’acqua calda.”

Implications for Future European Fixtures in Baku

The precautionary exit from Baku’s Olympic Stadium drew attention across European competition circles, particularly regarding the sanitary standards expected at elite continental venues. The venue remains a key stop for visiting clubs in UEFA competitions. Looking at squad values, Sabah FK was among the opponents considered most approachable, with the assessment that Napoli should only lose against Arsenal and City.