After political approval
Now it should go very quickly for the German Bundesliga. After the longed-for approval by the federal and state governments for ghost games, the Presidium of the German Football League decided before the general meeting convened for Thursday to continue the season that had been interrupted since mid-March on May 15.
“After weighing up all the arguments”, the umbrella association decided on this date, it says in a letter to the 36 clubs of the 1st and 2nd league, from which the “kicker” quoted. However, this rapid resumption of play after just a few days of team training does not meet with undivided approval. “In the interests of the integrity of the competition, we are promoting that the season should only begin again after a two-week team training session,” said Werder Bremen’s soccer director Frank Baumann before the DFL decision, citing May 23 as the preferred date for the re-start . The chairman of the FSV Mainz 05, Stefan Hofmann, had made a similar statement.
Leipzig’s Mintzlaff: No reason to wait any longer
But the DFL assured that it had “dealt with conceivable dates for the continuation of the season”. And most of the clubs can safely imagine that they voted for May 15th. “There is no reason to wait any longer,” said RB Leipzig managing director Oliver Mintzlaff. Bayer Leverkusen’s sports director Simon Rolfes also assured that “everyone is able” to play again on the weekend of May 16.
Instead of the specific start date, it should now be on Thursday with which match day the season will continue. If the DFL plans to resume on the 26th matchday, which had to be postponed due to the corona pandemic in mid-March, there would be, among other things, the district derby between Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04. “It’s still sporty a great rivalry. Both clubs have supported each other fairly in the past few months, “said BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke of” Bild “.
Before playing again, however, the teams must first go to quarantine over several days at the request of politicians. “The clubs and their employees are now fully responsible for implementing the medical, hygienic and organizational requirements accordingly,” warned DFL boss Christian Seifert on the ARD.
DFL boss Seifert “angry” after Kalou video
Through the scandal video by Hertha professional Salomon Kalou, who filmed himself in the Berlin cabin of several violations of the distance and hygiene rules, Seifert was “really very angry”. The pictures had “very annoyed and very upset a lot of people”, emphasized the manager of the league.
Nine match days are still outstanding in the 1st and 2nd leagues. With the medical concept of its task force, the DFL wants to prevent a large number of new infections among players, coaches or coaches from forcing a season break. “We are still preparing for the fact that we have to keep working hard and that the season will end,” said Seifert.
At the same time, top German football sees itself as a pioneer. “Our concept is very well received internationally, and we are already in contact with UEFA and other national associations for this,” said DFB general secretary Friedrich Curtius.
In other top European leagues such as England, Italy and Spain, a restart is even further away because of the much more severe consequences of the corona pandemic. The football championship has already been canceled in France and the Netherlands. In Austria, the course will be set in the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Bundesliga on Thursday.
