Minister of Health Rudolf Anschober speaks of a “constructive work process”, but there should not be a quick appointment like in Germany or Hungary.
Minister of Health Rudolf Anschober (Greens) sees no need to take this step particularly quickly in Austria after the political commitment in Germany to resume professional football. It was a “constructive work process” with the Bundesliga and ÖFB, the minister said in a press conference on Thursday. There is no solution yet.
In Germany, the envisaged time horizon for the continuation of the championship in the corona crisis was May 15th. “In Austria it is a bit more relaxed in terms of time pressure,” Anschober said.
His ministry rejected the concept presented by the Bundesliga on the framework conditions for a game operation without spectators last week. The league submitted one this week Rectification, as the “press” reported exclusively. In this work process, “constructive concepts are exchanged, studied, worked on, developed further,” Anschober emphasized. “But we still have no end result.”
The view of Germany
It was only on Tuesday that Anschober described the pending decision in Germany as “of great interest”. In the neighboring country, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Prime Ministers of the federal states will definitely start playing in May – in all likelihood even next week, if the league can agree on this date internally on Thursday.
“Germany presented a solution yesterday evening, with which I hear that everyone is reasonably satisfied,” Anschober said. There is also a solution in Switzerland that is supported by both sides – sport and the health authority. His goal is to get one in Austria too. “But it has to fit into the overall concept of protecting the population. That means that there will be no privileges for football. It will be treated like everyone else.”
At the league, with which there will be another meeting this week, Anschober understood the situation. “I have the impression that the Bundesliga understands what our concern is and that this health concern in general is currently a priority in Austria.” That was extremely important to him personally. “I am extremely happy that no one in the entire federal government questions this – although it is not that easy economically when it comes to the effects.”
Wait and check
It is intended to implement opening concepts for different areas, Anschober explained. However, these would always have to be “secured, accompanied and controlled”. Because the empirical values with openings would be missing, May was the “decision month” in this regard. The main focus would be whether “negative effects” in the form of coronavirus spread would occur in open areas. “Football is treated in exactly the same way, as are other sports.”
The Bundesliga will discuss how to proceed on Thursday evening in a trend-setting extraordinary general meeting. The season has been interrupted since mid-March, since April 20 the twelve first division and cup finalists Austria Lustenau have been able to train in small groups. A return to team training is not possible before May 15, according to the Ministry of Health.
(APA)
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