Football is on the way back, but not as we know it

JUST 239 PEOPLE WILL BE ALLOWED IN GERMAN STADIA

GERMAN clubs aim to return to action next month in the first glimmer of light for European football – but there will be only 239 people at each game.

Bayern Munich are among several Bundesliga sides back in training this week.

But ultra-strict rules will be imposed to govern how many people will be allowed into stadia for the behind-closeddoors matches.

And there will be 50 police officers stationed around each ground to deter fans who might try to gatecrash.

According to the German FA, the number on and around the pitch will be limited to 126. That figure includes players and officials, and just eight coaching, medical and technical staff per team.

There will be four ball boys on duty instead of the usual 12, and TV crews will be limited to a maximum of 36.

Thirty journalists covering the match will be among the rest of the 239 allowed in, but there will be nothing to eat or drink in the grounds.

The Premier League and the EFL are considering a similar proposal in order to complete the season, while in Holland, the Dutch FA have ignored calls from leading clubs to scrap the campaign.

They plan to resume on June 19, again behind closed doors. Three of the top four clubs in the Eredivisie – Ajax, AZ

Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven – demanded the country follow the lead of Belgium, which is likely to call a halt next week.

But after a meeting of clubs and other stakeholders last night, it was ruled that the season for the top two divisions should continue.

Officials hope clubs will return to training in midMay should the government give permission, even though the country has been hit hard by coronavirus, with more than 2,000 deaths.

UEFA warned Holland and Belgium that clubs could lose Champions League and Europa League places if they do not complete the season. Ajax technical director Marc Overmars said: “‘I think they have been put under big pressure by UEFA to continue playing at whatever cost.”