FIRST TEAM
04/23/2020

Bundesliga prepared for resumption of season in May

After intensive talks during the past few weeks, the German Football League (DFL) has concluded agreements with nearly all national media partners with regard to the payments to be expected. This will enable the DFL to provide liquidity to all Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs, gradually and depending on season developments, until the planned season end on 30 June.

The DFL informed about the agreements today during an Ordinary Assembly. However, one thing is also clear: if the season cannot start again or is interrupted, there are certain mechanisms that will lead to the reimbursement of the payments. This could once more lead to economic difficulties.

With regard to match operations, the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs are prepared to continue the current season in May without any spectators present in the stadiums. Until now, the Ordinary Assembly had suspended match operations until 30 April. The decision regarding the restart, of course, lies with the relevant political decision-makers.

In order to guarantee the best possible medical conditions, a binding concept was presented during the Ordinary Assembly. The binding guidelines elaborated by the''Sports Medicine / Special Match Operations Task Forc'', under the leadership of Prof. Dr Tim Meyer provide for, among other things, strict hygiene guidelines, continuous testing and permanent monitoring. In this context, a cooperation agreement for specialist medical support was concluded with a total of five laboratory associations. All five laboratories are part of the ALM (German Accredited Laboratories in Medicine). Said laboratories are Sonic Healthcare, LADR, Labor Berlin, Synlab and Labor Dr. Wisplinghoff. They will support the implementation of the concept through a nation-wide network of specialist medical laboratories. Furthermore, a contract for extensive antibody testing among players in the form of a clinical study has been concluded with Sonic Healthcare.

All laboratories have guaranteed in writing that their current capacities are sufficient and that the COVID-19 tests of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 players will not restrict or limit testing capacities. According to the situation report from the Robert Koch Institute, dated 22 April, testing capacity volume is currently at 818,000 per week, on the basis of weekly working days. Professional football would take up less than 0.4 percent of that. In addition, it is to be assumed that laboratory capacities in Germany will increase even further.

Beyond the currently planned test volume, the DFL will provide additional testing capacities in the amount of 500,000 euros. These are to be used in publicly funded healthcare, in coordination with the German Federal Ministry of Health – for instance, in nursing homes. If, for any reason whatsoever, the testing needs of the clubs decrease, the capacities that thus become available will also be provided to publicly funded healthcare.

Furthermore, personnel costs in the areas of sports, general organisation and media are to be bindingly reduced to a minimum. In the Bundesliga, 98 persons on and around the pitch and 115 persons in the stands are planned – meaning a maximum of 213 persons in the stadium. Depending on the stadium, another maximum of 109 persons, including stewards, is planned for the exterior area. In the Bundesliga 2, 90 persons on and around the pitch and 98 persons in the stands are planned – meaning a maximum of 188 persons in the stadium. In addition to this, there will be a maximum of 82 persons in the exterior area.

The DFL Executive Committee has also taken a first resolution regarding the partial use of the solidarity fund that was provided by this year’s four UEFA Champions League participants: FC Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Accordingly, the 3. Liga and the Women’s Bundesliga will receive short-term support in the amount of 7.5 million euros. The reserve teams of Bundesliga clubs and their women’s teams are excluded from this. This means 19 Clubs of the 3. Liga and six Women’s Bundesliga clubs will receive the same financial support. The payments are expressly not tied to any further conditions.

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