Germany greenlights return of pro soccer
Germany’s decision that soccer can return this month provided encouragement for players and teams across Europe on Wednesday that the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic could soon be coming to an end.
With COVID-19 infections declining, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that the return of the top two leagues could be included in the loosening of lockdown measures.
However, supporters will be locked out of stadiums for some time to come across Europe to contain the coronavirus while there is no vaccine.
The Bundesliga is now set to be the first major men’s soccer competition to resume in Europe on May 15 after the shutdown of the sport across the continent in March. The Belgian, French and Dutch leagues were all canceled prematurely after governments decided it is not safe for sport to staged yet — even without fans.
“This ensures that the sporting decisions are made on the pitch and not in the boardroom,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of Bayern Munich, which has a four-point lead over Borussia Dortmund with nine games remaining.
“Let’s pick up where you left off, Erling,” Dortmund said in a tweet linking to a compilation of goals by teenage sensation Erling Haaland.
Croatia also announced plans Wednesday to bring back soccer May 30 and Turkey said it was aiming for June 12 and still hopes to host the postponed Champions League final in Istanbul in August.
The English Premier League and Spain’s LaLiga hope to start up again in June but are yet to announce a date.
“The return of the Bundesliga is great news for the football industry and marks the way for the staggered return of football that will not be complete until the return of fans to the stadiums,” La Liga President Javier Tebas said. “We are working so that LaLiga will resume soon. Yesterday and today we started the path with medical tests. This is good news for European football and for the return to the new normal after this crisis.”