This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
On May 6, 2020, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders made a crucial decision to allow the Bundesliga to resume behind closed doors from mid-May. This move makes the German top-flight the first of Europe's five major leagues to return to the field.
The decision was made after weeks of shutdown imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus. The leaders approved a plan by the German Football League (DFL) for the Bundesliga to resume in stadiums without spectators and with players regularly tested.
According to the approved rules, matches will be allowed to proceed, but with strict guidelines in place to prevent the contagion of the virus. A hygiene officer will be appointed to each team to ensure that the players follow the necessary protocols.
Bayern Munich and Germany captain Manuel Neuer emphasized the enormous responsibility that the players now have to be role models and follow the hygiene guidelines.
The DFL must now set a date for the restart, with either May 16-17 or the following weekend being considered. Representatives from the clubs will finalize the details in a videoconference on Thursday.
Christian Seifert, the CEO of the Bundesliga, welcomed the decision, stating that it was good news for the league. He emphasized the great responsibility that the clubs have to implement the medical and organizational guidelines in a disciplined manner.
Bayern Munich, who were four points clear at the top of the table when play was halted in mid-March, are seeking their eighth consecutive German title. The club's chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, expressed his delight at the decision, calling it an important and wonderful signal for the Bundesliga.
His opposite number at Borussia Dortmund, Hans-Joachim Watzke, also welcomed the news, praising the population of Germany for their discipline in containing the spread of the pandemic.
Germany has so far managed to prevent its hospitals from becoming as overburdened as other European countries, with around 165,000 coronavirus cases and 7,000 deaths.
The decision to allow football to resume is also driven by economic reasons, with 13 of the 36 teams in Germany's top two divisions reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy. The league desperately needs to claim around 300 million euros ($325 million) from TV contracts if the season is completed.
The league has long urged restarting play, which it says is vital for a sector that employs 56,000 people in Germany. Teams returned to training on April 6, following stringent social distancing rules.
The league's intensive testing plan allows matches to be relaunched with low risk to health, with so far 10 positive results for coronavirus from 1,724 tests since training resumed.
Health Minister Jens Spahn has argued that the testing regime makes sense and can serve as an example for other forms of professional sport, but warned that it has to be lived up to.
Leagues across Europe are taking different approaches to the unprecedented crisis, with the French league announcing that it will not resume the season, and the Premier League aiming to restart in June.
