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Merkel gives go-ahead for Bundesliga to resume in mid-May
BERLIN, May 6, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and
state leaders on Wednesday gave the Bundesliga the green light to
restart behind closed doors from mid-May after weeks of shutdown
imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus.
The political blessing makes the German top-flight the first of
Europe’s five major leagues to return to the field.
“Matches will be allowed under the approved rules,” said Merkel at
a press conference in Berlin, referring to a plan by the German
Football League (DFL) for the Bundesliga to resume in empty stadiums
and with players regularly tested.
Permission was granted on condition that strict guidelines are
followed — with a hygiene officer appointed to each team — to
prevent contagion of the virus.
The DFL must now set a date for the restart with either the weekend
of May 16-17 or the following weekend earmarked.
Representatives from the clubs will finalise those details in a
videoconference on Thursday.
With 13 of the 36 teams in Germany’s top two divisions reportedly
on the brink of bankruptcy, the league desperately needs to claim
around 300 million euros ($325 million) from TV contracts if the
season is completed.
– 10 cases of coronavirus –
The season was suspended in mid-March. The league has long urged
restarting play, which it says is vital for a sector that employs
56,000 people in Germany.
Teams returned to training on April 6 although sessions have
followed stringent social distancing rules and players are not allowed
to change at training grounds.
The league says its intensive testing plan allows matches to be
relaunched with low risk to health.
So far, clubs in the top two divisions have returned 10 positive
results for coronavirus from 1,724 tests since training resumed.
Three of the cases are known to be from the Cologne club and two
from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Health Minister Jens Spahn has argued that the testing regime
“makes sense and can serve as an example for other forms of
professional sport,” although he warned “it has to be lived up to”.
The league and politicians reacted with consternation when Hertha
Berlin player Salomon Kalou filmed himself shaking hands with
teammates this week, flaunting the social distancing rules that clubs
have put in place.
“The video has done the German league and professional football a
disservice,” Anja Stahmann, who chairs Germany’s regional sports
ministers, told RBB radio on Wednesday.
Hertha have suspended Kalou, and the 34-year-old former Chelsea
player has apologised profusely.
Bayern Munich, seeking their eighth consecutive title, were four
points clear at the top of the table when play was halted.
– Different approaches –
Leagues across Europe are taking different approaches to the
unprecedented crisis.
The French league announced last week it will not resume the Ligue
1 or Ligue 2 seasons, with Paris Saint-Germain being awarded the
top-flight title.
The Netherlands abandoned its season a week earlier.
The Premier League, Europe’s richest league, has said it aims to
restart in June, but deep differences have emerged over plans to use
neutral stadiums.
Players in Italy’s Serie A returned to training this week and in
Spain, Barcelona say players will undergo coronavirus tests on
Wednesday as La Liga clubs begin restricted training ahead of a
proposed resumption of the season next month.
The Serbian and Turkish leagues have also announced plans for
matches to resume.
BSS/AFP/MRU/2120hrs