Following German footballer Joshua Kimmich's announcement that he was not vaccinated, Bayern Munich football club said it supports the vaccination of its players against COVID-19, but it is not mandatory.

On Saturday, Kimmich said he was concerned about the long-term effects of the vaccine. However, he pointed out that he might get vaccinated in the future.

The player's announcement was faced with a wave of criticism across Germany.

Critics said Kimmich's stance on vaccination contradicts his own actions of co-founding the #WeKickCorona organization, which supported charities and welfare organizations during the pandemic.

Bayern CEO and former player Oliver Kahn told journalists that it is important to "advise everyone to get vaccinated," he pointed out however that "one has to respect that others can have a different opinion."

The club's President, Herbert Hainer, declared that "Bayern supports vaccination actions in a sustainable way," but affirmed that vaccination is an individual choice and Bayern doesn't oblige anyone to get vaccinated.

Backing Kimmich, Bayern legend and former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expressed that "If there is one player I know who is extremely responsible and a role model in many things in life then this has always been Joshua."

The German Football League on Tuesday mentioned that more than 90% of players and staff in the top two German divisions have received the vaccine.