The Bundesliga is to restart its season on May 15. The DFL, which operates the league, confirmed the decision to media outlets just hours after Chancellor Angela Merkel and state premiers had given it the green light.
A matter of hours after Chancellor Angela Merkel and the premiers of Germany’s 16 states had announced that they had given the green light for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 to restart in mid-May at the earliest, news emerged of just when the first games are to be played.
Several media organisations reported on Wednesday evening that they had obtained confirmation about a report originally published by the mass circulation daily Bild, that the German Football League (DFL) had decided to restart play on May 15.
According to the reports the 36 clubs have already been informed in a letter from DFL CEO Christian Seifert, which leading football publication kicker obtained and cited in its report.
“After weighing up all the arguments, the DFL Executive Committee decided today by circular letter to resume play in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga from 15 May 2020,” it said.
Earlier in the day, Seifert had reacted to Chancellor Merkel’s statement at a Berlin press conference, describing the political decision as “good news for the Bundesliga.”
“It’s a great responsibility for the clubs to implement the medical and organizational guidelines in a disciplined manner,” Seifert added, referring to the DFL’s plans to restart play behind closed doors and in accordance with strict hygiene protocols and – to whatever extent is possible – physical distancing.
The DFL and it’s 36 member clubs are to discuss the restart in a video conference slated for Thursday.
The fact that the DFL has won approval to resume play even though a general government ban on mass public events remains in place, is not without its critics.
