Germany’s football league Bundesliga is set to restart in May, with matches being played behind closed doors, after the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus, as per reports. It was previously reported that the league, which has been halted since March 13 due to the pandemic, could restart by May 9. However, German media reports are saying that May 21 is a possible date.
According to an AFP report, the government is open to restarting matches in the first and second divisions of the league to “limit the economic damage”, calling it “acceptable”.
“Restarting match activity must be preceded by a two-week quarantine, where appropriate in the form of a training camp for players,” read a draft agreement by the government.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and state premiers are expected to set a date to restart the Bundesliga in a telephone conference call on Wednesday.
With nine remaining match days in the Bundesliga season, German clubs stand to recoup 300 million euros in TV rights, reports AFP. More than a dozen of the 36 clubs are on the verge of bankruptcy following the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. If Bundesliga restarts soon, it could make up for some of the financial loss.
Germany’s DFL football league has also urged restarting play, which it says is vital for a sector that employs 56,000 people in the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on sporting calendars across the world. In Germany, over 167,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 has been reported, with nearly 7,000 deaths.
