German Bundesliga has given the date for their resumption, they will be resuming on the 16th of this month. Most teams have nine games left to play, with the final weekend of the season rescheduled for 27-28 June.
The German Football Association (DFL) said the season would resume under strict health protocols that bans fans from the stadium and requires players to have Covid-19 testing. Around 300 people, including players, staff and officials, will be in or around the stadiums during matchdays and all of them will be tested before they will be allowed to play.
The chief executive of German Football League Christian Seifert held a news conference on Thursday where he said despite the empty stands and other restrictions, “it was crucial to resume play” he concluded.
Other updates to emerge included:
- As well as players and coaching staff, referees will also be subject to medical and hygiene regulations.
- There was no clarification on the issue of matches being available free to air talks are under way with broadcasters.
- There were 10 positive results from clubs in the top two divisions following the first series of coronavirus tests and two in the second series.
On Wednesday Chancellor Angela Merkel eased some restrictions, allowing shops to reopen with the country seeing fewer than 7,000 deaths from coronavirus.
Seifert said: “The interest [globally] is big. I see reports from across the world that we are the first major league to return. This can only happen because we have the privilege to live in one of the most modern health systems in the world.
“The matches will feel different. After the first matchday, we will all know why we prefer games with fans. But that is the framework we have to operate in and I expect the best possible sport within this framework.”
Among the games to be played first in the German Bundesliga include local derby between fierce rivals Schalke and Borussia Dortmund. With the German Bundesliga resuming on the 16th of May they will become the first league in Europe to resume their league.
Full List of German Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday
Augsburg v Wolfsburg
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin
RB Leipzig v Freiburg
Sunday
Cologne v Mainz
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich
Monday
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen
