Bundesliga action could return as soon as May 15 after being given the green light by chancellor Angela Merkel.
The German top-flight has been suspended like every other major league because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Bundesliga action could be returning to screens on May 15Credit: AFP – Getty
Bundesliga stars are back in trainingCredit: EPA
Sancho and Co could be back next weekendCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But with the country having been better placed than most to deal with the crisis, the situation has improved in recent weeks.
So much so that its lockdown was eased on Monday, with plans to do so further in the works.
And according to Bild, the government have now told the Bundesliga to pick a date to resume playing, with May 15 the earliest possible.
The news comes as Merkel gave a return the green light in a meeting with the 16 German states this morning – despite having been expected to delay action further.
Germany has been struck by over 167,000 confirmed cases so far – but has limited its number of tragic fatalities to 6,993 – far fewer than neighbouring European countries of similar size.
Clubs have been back in training since early April, gradually stepping it up in accordance with safety guidelines.
Players have now returned to full training.
Three Cologne stars have tested positive for Covid-19, however, but this hasn’t derailed plans to return.
MATCHDAY PRECAUTIONS
Reports last week detailed how matchdays could look under the new safety guidelines.
A maximum of 300 people – including four police, ten journalists, four ball boys, eight groundsmen and 50 security staff – will be allowed at the stadium at any time.
Team buses will be disinfected before entering the ground with players checked before being allowed into the building.
Starting players should warm up separately from substitutes and use a different changing room.
The teams would come out of the tunnel alone and at different times, no lining up together or shaking hands or posing for photos while subs could be forced to sit in the stands in order to space out.
KA-LULESS
Former Chelsea star Salomon Kalou has been suspended by Hertha Berlin for filming himself flouting social distancing rules.
In the Facebook Live clip, the former Chelsea star is seen fist-bumping team-mates and staff and even barging in on a pal’s medical check-up.
Kalou has been suspended for his Facebook Live video
Defender Jordan Torunarigha was seen having what appeared to be his test for coronavirus – with Kalou having seen his result come back negative.
On realising Kalou was filming, the doctor administering the test quickly says: “Sala, please. Sala, delete that, please.”
Kalou simply claimed he was “only joking”.
Salomon Kalou sings ‘corona song’, ignores social distancing rules and moans about pay cuts in shock video
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
