German league, Bundesliga receives green light to restart football matches in May

As Germany eases the lockdown in the country amidst the Coronavirus, chancellor, Angela Merkel has granted the Bundesliga leave to resume playing football matches.

There are several conditions to restarting the league. Players must be quarantined for a week before the football matches and are to play in a stadium with only 322 spectators.

The league must now decide whether to resume on 15 May, which is the earliest that the league can resume or on 22 May.

After the league starts, players will be tested frequently for symptoms of the Coronavirus while strict hygiene measures will be put in place as the matches are played.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Nauer spoke to players and urged them to act responsibly in an article for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He wrote:

“I am speaking consciously of the football family and football matches, because the fact that advice will be given on the restart of the federal leagues and, if possible, a decision is likely to have consequences for all of football, right down to the many amateur clubs and the youngest generations – and beyond also for many other sports.

“Even from other European countries, and indeed all over the world, people will be looking at us. This is an enormous responsibility for us, which we must be aware of with every fibre. We must be aware that it is also important to us now.”