German FA to Restart Bundesliga May 16

By Adedapo Adesanya

The German Football Association (DFL) has announced the resumption of the country’s football league known as Bundelisga from Saturday May 16, 2020.

This announcement was made after the German government gave the league body the green light to restart football games.

The government said the Bundesliga and second division Bundesliga could restart after it was suspended mid-March and was earlier scheduled to end this month.

With this planned resumption, Bundesliga CEO Mr Christian Seifert, said the top-tier season will finish on June 27, with the second division campaign concluding on June 28.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans will not be allowed into the stadium or even allowed to gather outside stadium.

“The interest globally is big. I see reports from across the world that we are the first major league to return. This can only happen because we have the privilege to live in one of the most modern health systems in the world.

“The matches will feel different. After the first matchday, we will all know why we prefer games with fans. But that is the framework we have to operate in and I expect the best possible sport within this framework,” Mr Seifert said.

On Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel eased some restrictions, allowing shops to reopen with the country seeing fewer than 7,000 deaths from coronavirus.

In addition, league organisers are currently considering allowing teams to use five substitutes during the remaining fixtures.

The majority of Bundesliga clubs have nine matches left to play in this campaign with the exception of Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen who have 10 matches with leaders Bayern Munich four points ahead of Borussia Dortmund in second.

Fixtures for the first week of the restart are:

Saturday (May 16)

Augsburg v Wolfsburg

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach

Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn

Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin

RB Leipzig v Freiburg

Sunday (May 17)

Cologne v Mainz

Union Berlin v Bayern Munich

Monday (May 18)

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen