Bundesliga Given Green Light To Resume
The Bundesliga is set to become the first major European league to resume after German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave them the green light to restart.
The top flight in Germany has been suspended since March because of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 167,000 people in the country and caused close to 7,000 deaths.
The German government previously delayed a decision for the league to resume on May 9 but their latest pronouncement means the Bundesliga will likely restart from May 15 or May 22, with confirmation expected to come from the German Football League (DFL) on Thursday.
"The Federal Chancellor and the heads of government of the federal states consider the continuation of play in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga to be justifiable for the 36 clubs eligible to start there at their expense from the second half of May,” a statement released by the German government on Wednesday read.
"DFL determines the specific match dates."
Large public gatherings in Germany have been banned until the end of August, meaning all games at the moment will be staged behind closed doors.
Christian Seifert, chief executive of the DFL, said: "Today's decision is good news for the Bundesliga and the 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.
"Games without spectators are not an ideal solution for anyone. In a crisis threatening the very existence of some clubs, however, it is the only way to keep the leagues in their current form."
