Bundesliga can restart in second half of May, Merkel says

Germany’s Bundesliga soccer league can re-start in the second half of May following the coronavirus stoppage, Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

The announcement was made as part of an easing of lockdown measures on Wednesday.

The Bundesliga has been on hold since mid-March because of the pandemic.

Ms. Merkel

The German Football League is due to decide on Thursday to decide on further details.

NEWSVERGE recalled that the German Interior Minister, Horst Seehofer had on Sunday backed a possible restart for the Bundesliga season this month without spectators as the government prepares for a key meeting.

Although Bundesliga clubs have returned to training in small groups, the league has been suspended since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic and the government is to decide next week on a potential resumption of sports activities.

He also said he was in favour of full team quarantine in cases of positive test, something that is not planned in the DFL blueprint.

“But I am in favour of trying to attempt to play again,” he said.

The cash-strapped clubs and league are desperate to resume play as soon as possible, even without spectators, so the season can contractually finish by 30 June.

Germany has suffered over 6 600 deaths from coronavirus with more than 162,000 people infected at the time this article was published.