German Bundesliga has been given the go-ahead to resume the 2019-2020 season on May 16, putting an end to two months without football in Germany. The season was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the country since February but reached its peak in March.
Germany is one of the most hit countries in Europe as far as the pandemic is concerned. As of Wednesday, May 6, over 150,000 people have contracted the virus. The country has also recorded close to 6,300 coronavirus related deaths.
These alarming statistics made it so difficult for the season to resume earlier but the clubs and the league governing body DFL have been showing commitment to the completion of the season which still has about 91 fixtures to end.
All the clubs in the first and second-tier leagues in Germany have been having deliberations via video conference on how their aim of resuming the season in May could be achieved. The first sign that shows that the DFL was ready to complete the season was when the governing body permitted the clubs to commence training on April 7.
A week ago, a total of 1,724 footballers and coaching staff of the first and second-tier leagues in Germany were tested for coronavirus, according to a statement issued on Monday by DFL. When the test of 10 personnel of the leagues returned positive, pundits thought the dream of resuming the season in May has hit the brick wall.
Players and Coaches in German Bundesliga Won’t Quarantine
However, on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel announced in a press conference that the season is permitted to resume. She said the footballers and the coaches would not have to quarantine for 14 days since the clubs have the capacity to test for coronavirus regularly.
The Chancellor, however, stressed that all the matches should be played behind closed doors and strict guidelines should be followed at all the match venues.
Subsequently, a Bundesliga’s General Assembly will be held in Frankfurt today, May 7, 2020, to discuss and agree on the safety protocol that will be used to execute all the matches.
Though the DFL has agreed on resuming the Bundesliga on May 16, the governing body is yet to fix a date when the second tier of the league would resume but it is most likely to be later in May.
