COVID-19: Bundesliga can resume season mid-May, says Merkel

Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, says the remainder of the Bundesliga season, the country’s premier football competition, can resume “in the second half of May”.

Merkel gave the green light on Wednesday, although an official return date will be determined by the German Football League (DFL).

“Matches will be allowed under the approved rules,” she said in Berlin.

One of the rules is that matches will be played in empty stadiums with a ban placed on crowd gatherings in the country until at least October 24.

“Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of the German federal states decided today, Wednesday, that the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 seasons can resume from mid-May,” Christian Seifert, chairman of the executive committee of the DFL, said in a statement.

“Today’s decision is good news for Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. It is associated with a great responsibility for the clubs and their employees to implement the medical and organisational requirements in a disciplined manner. Matches without stadium spectators are not an ideal solution for anyone.

“However, during this crisis, which threatens the existence of some clubs, it is the only option to preserve the leagues in their present form. Today I’d like to thank the decision-makers at the state and federal level for placing their confidence in us.”

The development will make Bundesliga the first of the five major European leagues to return to football since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reacting to the decision, Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern Munich chairman, expressed his appreciation and also called for adherence to regulations.

“I would like to thank the politicians for giving today’s decision [and for] the opportunity to finish the Bundesliga season,” he said.

“We are now looking forward to resuming play, ideally from mid-May. This ensures that the sporting decisions are made on the pitch.

“I appeal to everyone involved to follow the requirements, which are the basis for resuming games, in an exemplary and extremely disciplined manner.”

The DFL is expected to meet on Thursday to discuss details of the Bundesliga’s return, including an exact date for football to commence.

Bayern Munich are top of the table, four points ahead of second placed Borussia Dortmund.