German Bundesliga to resume on May 16 in empty stadiums
The Bundesliga season will restart on May 16 after a suspension of
more than two months, the German Football League (DFL) said on Thursday,
becoming the first European league to resume amid the coronavirus
epidemic.
The DFL said the season would restart under the terms of a strict
health protocol that bans fans from the stadium, with six games on
Saturday, including the high-profile Ruhr valley derby between Borussia
Dortmund and Schalke 04.
The derby and four other matches will start at 1330GMT while Eintracht Frankfurt will host Borussia Moenchengladbach at 1630GMT. League leaders Bayern Munich face Union Berlin in one of two games on Sunday while one more will be played on Monday.
He was speaking by video conference after a meeting with first and second division clubs following the government’s decision on Wednesday to give the green light for the Bundesliga to restart in the second half of May and throw a financial lifeline to the cash-strapped clubs.
Seifert said there would be no Friday match in the first week as the government’s order was for play to resume in the second part of the month.
All teams will have to go into a seven-day training camp in complete isolation prior to May 16 and with all players being tested before their inclusion in the camps, to reduce the risk of any infection.
About 300 people, including players, staff and officials, will be in and around the stadiums during matchdays.
The derby and four other matches will start at 1330GMT while Eintracht Frankfurt will host Borussia Moenchengladbach at 1630GMT. League leaders Bayern Munich face Union Berlin in one of two games on Sunday while one more will be played on Monday.
The interest globally is big. I see reports from across the world that we are the first major league to return, DFL CEO Christian Seifert told a news conference.
This is only possible because we have the privilege to live in a country with one of the most modern health systems in the world.
He was speaking by video conference after a meeting with first and second division clubs following the government’s decision on Wednesday to give the green light for the Bundesliga to restart in the second half of May and throw a financial lifeline to the cash-strapped clubs.
Seifert said there would be no Friday match in the first week as the government’s order was for play to resume in the second part of the month.
Friday the 15th is not in the second half of the month, Seifert said.
All teams will have to go into a seven-day training camp in complete isolation prior to May 16 and with all players being tested before their inclusion in the camps, to reduce the risk of any infection.
About 300 people, including players, staff and officials, will be in and around the stadiums during matchdays.
The matches will feel different. After the first matchday we will all know why we prefer games with fans, Seifert said.
But that is the framework we have to operate in and I expect the best possible sport within this framework.
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