This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
Germany's Football League Makes History with Pandemic-Proof Restart ¶
BERLIN, Germany, June 26, 2020 - The German Football League (DFL) has made history by becoming the first top European league to restart play, thanks to the efforts of its chief executive, Christian Seifert.
Seifert's gamble to restart football in Germany despite the coronavirus pandemic has paid off, with the Bundesliga set to present the trophy to Bayern Munich on Saturday, marking the eighth straight year the team has won the championship.
Seifert's work behind the scenes, convincing politicians, the public, and players alike, enabled the Bundesliga to restart on May 16, making it the first top European league to resume play following the shutdown.
"It was a massive challenge," Seifert admitted at a recent media event, highlighting the difficulties of restarting the league during a pandemic.
He claimed that "a third of clubs would have faced massive financial problems" had the season ended in March, forfeiting millions in television money, and that "securing the clubs and saving jobs" was a top priority.
After a two-month hiatus due to COVID-19, the Bundesliga restart was marked by strict hygiene measures and stringent testing, with players' calls echoing around empty grounds, in order to complete the nine remaining rounds.
Seifert's efforts were supported by the German government, which managed to keep the death and infection rates down compared to other countries, giving the league a big advantage in terms of medical infrastructure.
However, the league's restart was not without its challenges, with players initially concerned about the threat to their health, and fans unhappy about being locked out of stadiums.
Seifert said that the league's restart bid was supported by the German government, which managed to keep the death and infection rates down compared to other countries.
"We had the big advantage of the German medical system and infrastructure. The government, in my view, handled the situation very well," he noted.
Seifert said that Germany is still a long way off seeing football stadiums packed again with fans for big games, but hopes that the iconic picture of a sold-out stadium will return soon.
