FIRST TEAM
03/09/2020

Coronavirus: DFL fixtures remain unchanged

Following the recommendations made by health minister Jens Spahn, the executive committee of the German Football League (DFL) met on Monday 9 March to discuss the possible effects of the Coronavirus on the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Taking into account the fact that local authorities are responsible for deciding what the response will be in the respective stadium locations, the DFL executive committee has, on the basis of current information, agreed on the following:

Barring regulations to the contrary from local authorities, all fixtures of the upcoming Matchday 26 will be played in both leagues. The DFL executive committee has also decided that matches which may only take place with a limited number of people in the stadium due to rulings made by local authorities will be played in compliance with the respective rulings. The clubs of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga will continue to coordinate closely with the relevant local authorities with regards to the organisation of further match days.

The current 2019/20 season must be completed by the scheduled date in the summer of 2020 in order to determine promotion and relegation as well as participants for European competition. Despite the challenging circumstances, this is the only way to give both clubs and the DFL the security required to plan for the coming season. For example, many player contracts are only valid for one league. 

The DFL executive committee has decided to invite all clubs in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga to an extraordinary general meeting at the beginning of next week to discuss the remainder of the season and the possible impact the Coronavirus may have in this regard. Should a further review of scheduling flexibility be required, a distinction may need to be made between the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga. The DFL executive committee has come to the decision that, should matches need to be rescheduled, then this would have to be done for entire matchdays en bloc. 

The DFL will hold discussions with the DFB and UEFA about the possibility of postponing league matchdays until the end of May.

The financial implications of the respective local situations should be dealt with on an individual basis by clubs. Nevertheless, the DFL is examining the possibility of adjusting the licensing procedure for the coming 2020/21 season in order to appropriate account of potential financial disadvantages resulting from the impacts of the Coronavirus. In addition, the DFL is also examining the possibility of adjusting payment dates for centrally generated income on the basis of the statutes in order to relieve clubs in the event of possible liquidity problems.

 

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