Fierce debate about restarting Bundesliga: "Typical statements" stunned coach legend

The Bundesliga continues. In the meantime, the date that triggers a heated debate has also been set. All developments in the news ticker.

• A decision regarding the future of the Bundesliga * was made on May 6.
• At the DFL a concept for the execution of ghost games has been developed.
• Politicians agree. All developments in the news ticker.

5.58 a.m .: The long-time Bundesliga coach Peter Neururer believes that the decision by the federal government to restart the Bundesliga was the only correct one. "An extremely wise decision by the federal government, because soccer is not a minor matter, soccer is a main thing and an integral part of our  society . Soccer, especially in the first and second leagues, has to take place," Neururer told the sports information service.

The 65-year-old has no understanding for criticism of the resumption: "These are the typical populist statements that come up again and again when it comes to football, when it comes to better-earning people, because unfortunately there is no differentiated approach."

Peter Neururer (right), here with Friedhelm Funkel, is considered a man of clear words.

© dpa / Kevin Kurek

He is primarily concerned with the economic aspects. "There are more than 20 million people who are either in the stadium or on the television screens every weekend, grappling with football or making money from it. So it's no longer a minor matter. What is going on in the square below is okay, but everything others are an incredibly important economic branch in our society, "said Neururer.

Bundesliga re-start despite Corona: SPD politician rumbles - "everything is twisted here to the contrary"

Update May 7, 5.53 a.m .: The Bremen Senator Ulrich Mäurer has sharply criticized the release for the game operation of the Bundesliga from May 15. "It was not surprising to me that there was preferential treatmentof professional football will come. That was foreseeable, ”said the SPD politician of the“ Bild ”newspaper and spoke of a wrong decision.

Mäurer also referred to the scandal video by Hertha professional Salomon Kalou , who filmed himself in the Berlin cabin when he violated several hygiene rules. “There could have been three Kalous walking through the city. This was about money - and that's where the morale ends, ”said the 68-year-old. 

Bremen's Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) spoke of heated debates about the date for the continuation of the game. He had spoken out in favor of a later restart. Interior senator Mäurer warned of the risks of the plans of the German Football League. "What if the first team has to go into quarantine? Then the game will probably be over, ”he said. In addition, Mäurer fears fan casseroles in front of the stadiums during the planned ghost games. "I think it is possible that the whole thing will develop completely differently than planned by the DFL," he said.

Mäurer regards the fact that many of the ghost games only run on pay TV as a fatal signal, because many fans could then watch games together on TV. "That means: everything that we want to achieve - that there are few contacts - is twisted into the opposite," explained Mäurer. He had long lost confidence in professional football.

Corona decision for Bundesliga fix! The date for re-start has been set

Update from May 6, 8:55 p.m .: The Bundesliga can start again , that was already certain in the early evening. Only the exact date had to be determined. Angela Merkel passed this decision on to the DFL professionals. 

And they advised quickly. According to consistent media reports, the Bundesliga will resume play on May 15 . Then the previous season continues with the 26th matchday. Further details will be announced on Thursday after the 36 clubs of the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga have discussed details of how to conduct the ghost games *.

Re-start of the Bundesliga fix! Söder: "Reasonable agreement" - Merkel leaves important details to the DFL

Update from May 6, 5:02 pm: FCB boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was also satisfied with the decisions of the Budes government and countries. "I can thank the politicians for giving today's decision the opportunity to end the Bundesliga season," said the CEO of the record champion: "We are now looking forward to ideally starting the game again in mid-May to be able to record. This ensures that the sporting decisions are made on the court and not on the green table. ”

In addition, Rummenigge would also like to thank the DFL and the Task Force Medicine "for the excellent organizational and medical concept." He also appeals to "everyone involved, the requirements of these concepts, which are the basis for resuming the game, exemplary and extreme disciplined to follow. "

ℹ Political decision: This is what Karl-Heinz #Rummenigge says about the resumption of the #Bundesliga.

https://t.co/OuIRdz5ad1

Bundesliga restart fix: DFL boss Seifert thanks politics - KHR of the league

Update from May 6, 4:53 p.m .:

 DFL managing director

Christian Seifert

thanked the politicians for the permission to continue the season of the federal leagues. "On this day, I would like to thank the political decision-makers from the federal and state governments for their trust," the 50-year-old is quoted in a DFL statement on Wednesday. “Today's decision is one

good news for the Bundesliga

and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is associated with a great responsibility for the clubs and their employees to implement the medical and organizational requirements in a disciplined manner, ”said Seifert.

The Bundesliga starts again in the second half of May. The league should decide on the exact date itself. 

© dpa / Federico Gambarini

Games without stadium spectators, as are necessary for a season continuation, are not an ideal solution for anyone. "In a crisis that threatens the existence of some clubs, however, it is the only way to keep the leagues in their current form."

Update from May 6, 4:16 pm: There will be no two-week quarantine for Bundesliga players. "A quarantine does not have to be two weeks," says Söder. "Because the players are tested frequently, even a week is enough." The same applies to medicine, explains Tschentscher. 

Update from May 6, 4:12 p.m .: The decision to make the Bundesliga was unanimous. "It was important to us that we give professional sports new opportunities and forget amateur sports," explains Peter Tschentscher, Mayor of Hamburg. Therefore, the restrictions were relaxed there too.

Update from May 6, 4:04 pm: Söder declares that the restart of the Bundesliga is a “reasonable agreement” and considers the “compromise to be negotiable”. He also appeals primarily to the players. "The clubs do everything to ensure that the concept is implemented. Now all players should stick to it, ”said Söder, who alludes to the video scandal by Salomon Kalou.

Re-start of the Bundesliga: Merkel gives the go - ghost games in the second half of May

Update from May 6, 3:56 p.m .: In addition, the CSU chief explains that from now on they will no longer meet weekly and will negotiate the restrictions. 

Update from May 6, 3:53 p.m .: Now Markus Söder also speaks. The Bavarian Prime Minister speaks of a “little sigh of relief” and thanks the population for the fact that the crisis has so far been so positive. 

Update from May 6, 3:50 p.m .: Now the Chancellor officially confirms that the Bundesliga will start again from the second half of May under the hygiene concept submitted by the DFL . 

The first game after the Corona "break" will Paderborn be against Düsseldorf?

Update from May 6th, 3:46 pm:  There it is! Now Chancellor Merkel comes before the press and talks about the further easing. She is happy about the numbers that the RKI has delivered in the past two weeks. This would have meant that measures could be visibly relaxed. The Chancellor has not yet spoken about the Bundesliga . 

Update from May 6th, 3:22 pm:  Exactly when the ghost games will be closed to the public is still open. The decision should be left to the German Football League (DFL). The DFL, which virtually assembled the 36 club bosses on Thursday, most recently targeted May 15. There are still nine game days left.

Update from May 6, 2:54 p.m .: Now a decision has been made! As reported by BILD , the Bundesliga starts with face games in the second half of May. The league should decide on the exact date itself. 

Bundesliga: decision on league restart made - Merkel leaves important details to the DFL

Update from May 6, 2:47 pm: Bremen is said to be one of the reasons why the Bundesliga discussion is still going on. BILD writes that the Bundesliga club is not calling for the season to start until May 22 or later, because Werder Bremen has not yet started team training and therefore there is no equal opportunity.  

Politics enables season continuation for #Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga from the second half of May - statement by Christian Seifert ➡️ https://t.co/pJysZ3K70x pic.twitter.com/kdNs29o5Cn

Update from May 6, 2:39 p.m .: Apparently the whole story could take a little longer . According to BILD information, Chancellor Merkel offered to postpone her appointment, which was scheduled for 4 p.m.  

Update from May 6, 2:15 p.m .: Apparently there are currently still discussions about the start time of the Bundesliga . According to BILD information, May 15 is too early for the SPD prime minister. The BR reported, meanwhile, that the meeting with the Kanzerlin and the prime minister now slowly coming to an end.

The Bundesliga starts again in the second half of May. The league should decide on the exact date itself. 

© dpa / Peter Kneffel

Update from May 6, 2:03 p.m .: First updates to the contact restrictions with loosening are slowly seeping through. Nothing can be heard on the topic of the Bundesliga yet.

Update from May 6, 1:50 p.m .: Still no Chancellor or Prime Minister to be seen ...

Update from May 6, 1:33 p.m .: With the punctual start it doesn't seem to be anything. So we have to be patient. 

Bundesliga: decision pending - what do Merkel and Söder decide?

Update of May 6, 13:29: The  FC Augsburg meets in the  corona crisis further precautions for the safety of his players and staff. In the future, the body temperature  will be measured at the entrance to the main building of the Augsburg Football Arena  . As the Bundesliga team announced on Wednesday, three people per second can be measured contactless from a distance of up to three meters. The maximum tolerance for the measurements is 0.3 degrees.

With the measurement, an elevated temperature should be recognized as one of the most common symptoms of the disease COVID-19 at an early stage in order to be able to react with further measures if necessary. Measurements are taken several times a day.

"As a club, we have a duty to ensure the best possible health for our players, in the current situation more than ever," said Managing Director Stefan Reuter. "Body temperature measurement is an important component here, which enables us to carry out quick and regular checks in an uncomplicated manner, so that the first signs of possible infections are recognized early and the appropriate measures are taken."

Update from May 6, 1:11 p.m .: Is that insane ! Nor did Angela Merkel no sound said, but the rumors about the launch date simmer without end. Raphael Honigstein has now tweeted that the first proposal for a two-week quarantine has now been canceled - and a one-week quarantine would suffice according to the DFL's medical letter . May 15th would be back in the game!

Update! Merkel's initial proposal (leaked to media) demanded "a two-week quarantine" for Bundesliga clubs. A second version has now crucially removed the "two-week" bit. One week, as per the league's medical paper, might be seen as sufficient - which would bring us back to May 15

Update from May 6, 1:09 p.m .: So, now the official start of the PK with Angela Merkel and Markus Söder has been postponed to 1:30 p.m. So the decision will only take 20 minutes ...

Live stream for the Bundesliga decision: is May 15th still tenable?

Update from May 6, 12:59 p.m .: What will be decided today? This is the big question that the colleagues at msl24.de are also concerned with *. If politics gives the go, theoretically the ball should roll in the Bundesliga again next weekend. Of course, only as ghost games, since major events are generally prohibited until August 31 . 

However, it has already been leaked that if the league is allowed to resume operations, the teams will have to go into quarantine for two weeks beforehand. So the fixed May 15th will probably no longer be stable. Realistic Bundesliga restart would then be May 22nd . 

Ready for any decision. pic.twitter.com/kHCBLhFMjC

Update from May 6th, 12.55 p.m .: The Chancellor and Bavaria's Prime Minister are far behind. Actually, the PK was announced for 12.45pm, but there are still no live pictures of Angela Merkel and Markus Söder.

Update from May 6, 12:26 p.m .: So, it should start now. In a few minutes, Angela Merkel should announce the future plans for further easing and the resumption of the Bundesliga. We keep you up to date here! 

Update of May 6, 12:13 p.m .: National team captain Manuel Neuer , as another football representative, has shown the consequences of a failure to continue the season in the Bundesliga . “We are also responsible for all clubs that have grown into commercial companies with many thousands of employees. And we have to be aware that the Bundesliga, as we know it, will no longer exist if the season is broken off, ”said the 34-year-old in a guest post for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung .

 “We professionals could get the bonus of the first starting group. This is an enormous responsibility for us, which we must be aware of with every fiber, ”said Neuer, who is in negotiations with FC Bayern Munich about an early contract extension.

Bundesliga ghost games are conceivable from May 15th.

© dpa / Roland Frankincense

The goalkeeper and captain of the national team and Bayern further explains: “Of course I perceive that there are some who see our industry from the outside as withdrawn; who denounces an alleged special route; The now occurring misconduct - a completely normal social problem by the way - takes as proof that the paper on which the DFL concept was written is patient, but the implementation is not trusted by us footballers, "said Neuer. "We have to face this criticism, even rejection in isolated cases."

Bundesliga: restart date probably not tenable - sports medicine warns of long-term damage 

Update from May 6, 10:51 a.m .: The planned restart of the Bundesliga could have enormous health consequences for footballers. At least that is feared by sports doctor Wilhelm Bloch from the German Sport University Cologne. 

He warns of possible consequential damage from a coronavirus infection: "An athlete should already think about the fact that an infection can be the end of his career," said Bloch in the Sportschau interview.

Covid-19 can develop a severe course of the disease even in young people without previous illnesses . This happens, so virologists suspect, if a high dose of the virus is inhaled from the air straight into the lungs and the infection does not begin in the throat but immediately in the lungs.

“If you are really breathing, the gas exchange increases by a factor of 15 to 20 - above the respiratory rate and because you have 3.5 liters of breathing volume, professional athletes even more. That means you breathe deeply into your lungs, "said Bloch:" And there is the place where serious damage can take place. "

Looking at the DFL plans for team training and match operations, the sports doctor said: “You have to protect the athlete. So am I taking the risk of a serious infection involving lung involvement and possibly the end of my career? At least this cannot be ruled out. "

Update of May 6, 10:27 a.m .: Health Minister Spahn defended the planned continuation of the season with ghost games a few hours before Chancellor Angela Merkel's consultations with the heads of state. 

It was important to "give professional sports a perspective as a whole, it is also about economic issues," said Spahn on ZDF and added: "But my impression is, of course, that many millions of fans in Germany also ask when it can start again . "

Bundesliga: restart date fixed - or is everything going to be different?

Update of May 6, 10:02 a.m .:  Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) has called for consistent action in the event of violations of the Corona requirements in the event of resumption of play in the Bundesliga . 

Bundesliga ghost games are conceivable from May 15th.

© dpa / Rolf Vennenbernd

"We have seen in the past few days that one or the other obviously needs to be woken up to understand that something is at stake," said Spahn on Wednesday in the ZDF morning magazine . That is why "a clear crackdown" of the German Football League and the individual teams is "very, very important".

A decision on restarting the Bundesliga is expected today . The federal government wants the German professional football for information of the German Press Agency of the resumption since mid-March because of the corona crisis exposed gaming operation in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga permit. "The beginning of the game operation has a two-week quarantine measure , possibly in the form of a training camp, anticipating go ," it says in the dpa in Berlin this draft resolution. A precise date is left open.

Bundesliga in the corona crisis: is the decision to restart made today?

Update from May 6, 9:14 a.m .: This Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and the country heads will advise on corona loosening in a telephone switch . The image is by its own account, the draft decision of Corona summit before. 

The 1st and 2nd League are due to the "special status of professional sportsmen and professional athletes" Thus the game operation can resume, the newspaper quoted from the paper - for the re-start of an appointment will still in May targeted. Players must be quarantined for two weeks beforehand . That would be the 15th of May, which was still called the restart date. 

Corona break: Bundesliga soon on free TV?

Update May 5, 7.44 p.m .:  Will the Bundesliga be broadcast on free TV after the corona break for fear of sky parties? The chances are not too bad.

Update from May 5, 4:15 p.m .:  Will we soon see the continuation of the Bundesliga ? A decision will be made on Wednesday, May 6th. May 15 was already mentioned as the date for the restart. An official confirmation of this is still pending.

Meanwhile, the next Bundesliga club * reports positive Corona cases : Borussia Mönchengladbach . As the Rheinische Post reports, a physiotherapist and a player are infected.

Bundesliga hammer despite Kalou scandal? The date for the restart is set - DFL needs more tests

Update of May 5, 1:47 p.m .: The hygiene concept of the DFL, which has been praised by politicians for the resumption of the Bundesliga , obviously needs more corona tests  than previously stated. ZEIT Online reports  this and relies on statements from the football league .

"With regard to the number of planned Corona tests , changes will essentially result from the addition of voluntary tests in the home environment and the two test waves before the team training starts," a DFL spokesman is quoted.

Bundesliga: restart planned - but more corona tests needed? 

However, the DFL did not state the exact number of tests required because "an exact forecast is not possible at the present time, since neither the length of the rest of the season, including English weeks, nor the number of family members to be tested is known."

ZEIT Online calculates that for a season that is only completed on weekends, 30,000 to 35,000 tests are required. However, should English weeks take place, including matchdays during the week, the duration of the season would be shortened, the number of tests and the risk of infection would be reduced and "only" 25,000 or more tests would be required. 

Will the Bundesliga be around again soon?

© dpa / Jan Woitas

Most recently, 20,000 tests were required before the upper limit of 25,000 was mentioned. Now it obviously depends on the rhythm in which the league is played to the end.

Bundesliga hammer despite Kalou scandal? The date for the restart has been determined

Update from May 5, 9:33 a.m .: At the federal-state consultations with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) on May 6, a resumption of the football Bundesliga could also be considered in the desk - from May 15 and as Ghost games . The Reuters news agency reports , referring to negotiating groups. Despite the sometimes violent criticism of the scandal video by Hertha professional Salomon Kalou, the Bundesliga should now start soon.

Bundesliga restart: fateful day is approaching - gloomy scenario conceivable

Update from May 4, 5:30 p.m .: Tangible scandal video in the Bundesliga. The players obviously don't care about the corona rules. Compliance with the hygiene concept, which is very closely linked to the restart of the Bundesliga, is being trodden underfoot. On tz.de * you will find a comment on the current situation - with a drastic demand.

Update of May 4, 3:07 p.m .: Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has again rejected exceptions for football professionals for a restart of the Bundesliga . The CSU politician has emphasized that there can be no "privileges" for Bundesliga players, said spokesman Steve Alter on Monday in Berlin. 

Seehofer still considers the concept of the German Football League to continue the game "as a very good basis for easing in this area". However, the federal government has not yet decided jointly with the states whether it "wants to apply this concept".

Update from May 4, 2:15 p.m .: Breathe deeply in the Bundesliga . In the worst case, Monday could have been a severe damper to the hopes of a new start, but the announcement by 1. FC Köln caused a collective breath of relief in German professional football. After three positive tests, the second round of analysis at FC showed only negative results, the hygiene concept of the German Football League (DFL) has taken the first hurdle.

Bundesliga restart: fateful day is approaching - gloomy scenario conceivable

First announcement on May 4: Frankfurt - Once again, all those responsible, players and fans are looking forward to a day that could possibly determine the near future of the Bundesliga *. After April 23rd and 30th, this time it is May 6th . The government is expected to make further decisions on professional sports in Germany on Wednesday .

What is the current mood in politics? North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul has reaffirmed his positive attitude towards possible ghost games in the soccer Bundesliga * in the coronavirus crisis *. The but plan the DFL has to prove the view of the CDU politician in reality . "The concept is conclusive, you only know whether it will work afterwards," said Reul at "Radiowelt" on Bayern 2 on Monday. 

Bundesliga: restart in sight? Reul brings quick termination into play

At the same time, he was relentlessly honest and said what everyone who participates in the football world is afraid of: “You can calculate the risk and, on the other hand, everyone involved must also know that there are problems then such a story can be broken off again . "

The DFL hopes to continue the currently interrupted season with ghost games and has presented a concept for hygiene and safety. "If you keep people practically isolated, permanently tested, it can be, but I don't know yet," said Reul about the chances of success.

Bundesliga: after Cologne's Corona chaos - restart in May?

Most recently, three people had tested positive for the corona virus at Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln. The trio had to go into quarantine for 14 days , the rest of the team trained in groups. "Yes, that's the same with other people. Not all of them are put in quarantine, but those who have been verified, ”said Reul.

From the perspective of the NRW Minister of the Interior, the “most difficult question” is what will happen in the event of fan outcry in front of stadiums and in cities. "This will be a major challenge for the police because there will be clusters not just in one place, but in several places," said Reul. "We will certainly need a number of police officers there too."

Statement by the #DFL following the Chancellor's conversation with the heads of government of the federal states in connection with the #Coronavirus ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QVRUmoTRDQ

Meanwhile, for example, FC Bayern Munich plans the future of the squad. President Herbert Hainer has involuntarily betrayed the possible farewell of four players. Bundesliga legend Jupp Heynckes also teased Leroy Sané.

* tz.de, merkur.de and msl24.de are parts of the Germany-wide Ippen-Digital editors network

akl / dpa

Rubric list picture: © dpa / Kevin Kurek