New coronavirus infections among German soccer squads revealed on Monday highlighted the challenge for European leagues to restart during the pandemic, AP reports.

The ongoing severity of the outbreak was not grasped by striker Salomon Kalou, who was suspended by Hertha Berlin for flouting social distancing measures by live-streaming himself fist-bumping teammates and bursting in on an apparent Covid-19 test all while complaining about a pay cut.

The new infections hurt the Bundesliga's hopes of the resuming this month. Chancellor Angela Merkel and 16 state governors will determine on Wednesday if the risk of infections spreading at stadiums is too great even without spectators.

Ten positive Covid-19 cases were reported from 1,724 tests conducted across the 36 clubs in Germany's top two divisions.