On Thursday last week, controversy erupted at the Araneta Coliseum when Germany refused to play its scheduled match with China.

The official statement read. “Unfortunately, today’s 3 p.m. men’s match between China and Germany has been cancelled after Germany refused to play against China even though Chinese athletes were cleared by local authorities after testing positive for COVID-19,” 

It is a stunning development in the Quezon City leg as fans left either without watching a match or sitting idly as they waited for the next match between Argentina and Slovenia scheduled at 7 p.m.

Germany’s hesitance to play China has resulted in a forfeit, giving the Chinese the 3-0 win.

This is not the first time that Germany has begged off from a match. Its exhibition match against the Philippine national team in the PNVF International Challenge was scrapped after the German cited ‘the need to rest.’ 

This effectively ended the country’s hopes of seeing its best spikers compete with top international stars, as the Filipinos’ first friendly match last June 16 was also called off due Japan’s separate COVID-19 outbreak, which put at least six athletes out of commission. 

Germany currently stands at 3-2 win-loss while China picked up its first win through five games in the men’s competition.

China has since utilized the allotted time to train at the Big Dome taraflex in front of those in attendance.

VNL also apologized to paying fans at the Big Dome and promised that the 7 pm match between Argentina and Slovenia will push through. However, no refund measures were mentioned.

The Chinese, meanwhile, earned a hard-fought 25-23, 31-29, and 25-23 sweep against home team Brazil in Brasilia last June 12 – the last time they suited up for a real play time.