Matthijs De Ligt performs hasty U-turn on COVID vaccine refusal

Dutch defender Matthijs De Ligt has this evening sought to clarify that he will in fact be looking to receive a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as is possible. 

The Juventus player had initially stated publicly that he did not intend to receive the vaccine, citing that what he did with his body was his own business.

However, by Saturday evening he appears to have had a change of heart.

In my recent interview, I was not clear with my response. In order to clear any doubts: I am absolutely in favour of the COVID-19 vaccination and will take it as soon as possible.

— Matthijs de Ligt (@mdeligt_04) May 29, 2021

"In my recent interview," the Juventus defender tweeted on Saturday evening, referring to an interview he conducted with ESPN.nl, "I was not clear with my response.

"In order to clear any doubts: I am absolutely in favour of the COVID-19 vaccination and will take it as soon as possible."

Matthijs de Ligt - PA Images

Despite the suggestion that he has intended to take a COVID-19 vaccination, De Ligt appeared to be one of six Dutch players who had recently refused the opportunity.

"I have not taken a vaccination, it is not mandatory," the defender had stated. "I think you should be in charge of your own body.

"The risk of infection is always there. I try to come into contact with as few people as possible outside the Dutch national team."

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday ahead of the European Championships which will commence next month, Netherlands boss Frank de Boer shared his thoughts on the vaccine.

"We have always said at KNVB [Dutch FA] that the people who need the vaccine the most, should get it first," he stated.

"That happened and now we think it could be a choice to vaccinate ourselves. In recent days, this was possible on a voluntary basis. I think about six players didn't do it.

"That's not a problem either, because you have to know for yourself if you have a shot. I said I would, but in the end it's the person's choice and we have to respect that."

Matthijs De Ligt had appeared to be the first Dutch international to publicly confirm that he was among those six, but that would appear to no longer be the case.

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