Bundesliga ‘will be ready’ for closed door games says league boss

Frankfurt (dpa) – German football league (DFL) chief executive Christian Seifert says the Bundesliga “will be ready” should it be given the chance to play matches behind closed doors amid the coronavirus outbreak.

But speaking to Die Zeit weekly newspaper, Seifert admitted the intended goal of finishing the season by June 30 was not in the hands of the league.

Seifert said that even closed door matches in the Bundesliga would require around 300 people working in a stadium including players, physios and camera crews among others.

The Bundesliga and German second division are currently suspended until at least April 30.

The league has not played a full programme since the 25th matchday from March 6-8, with a postponed game from the 21st matchday between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Cologne going ahead behind closed doors on March 11.

That match – the only game in Bundesliga history to be played without spectators – went ahead with around 600 people present in the stadium.

According to the Bild daily on Tuesday, the DFL has proposed to the 36 first and second division clubs matches be played behind closed doors with fewer than half that figure present.

The number of stewards and ball kids would be reduced, clubs limited to eight-strong delegations and there would be no catering personnel in stadiums.

North Rhine Westphalia Premier Armin Laschet told RTL television there would be talks next week on the league’s ideas for a resumption.

“The Bundesliga could play again in the foreseeable future. But one thing is clear: without spectators,” he said.

The top two divisions have nine matchdays remaining this season. Ending the season, even by playing matches behind closed doors, will be important to guarantee revenues from television contracts. Without this income it is believed a number of clubs would struggle to survive.

TV rights holder Sky could help clubs out with advanced payments, the Funke media group reported. It quoted a Sky spokesperson as saying it was discussing “constructive solutions” with the DFL.

Sky is the league’s biggest contributor, paying an average 876 million euros (953 million dollars) a year under the current media rights deal.

Bundesliga clubs Freiburg and Hoffenheim have meanwhile been told they can resume training in small groups after the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg granted professional footballers an exception to rules prohibiting close contact.

The social ministry said distance between players must be maintained and strict rules followed relating to hygiene to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Groups will be limited to five players, outside and without physical contact. Players are advised to arrive ready for training and go directly home, rather than to changing rooms, afterwards.

Freiburg said it would conduct training in pairs from Tuesday. There would be no tackling and separate pairs of players would not meet. The players would attend the club already in training gear and will shower at home.

Other professional sport clubs in the region are not yet permitted to resume training although that is expected to be granted shortly. Training remains banned for amateur teams.

Several other Bundesliga teams in other German states have already resumed limited training including champions Bayern Munich.