The German Football League has received a lot of praise across Europe for its concept of restarting the Bundesliga - and has secured the trust of politics. The Bundesliga must now justify this in game operations.
Düsseldorf (dpa) - The carelessness of Hertha professional Salomon Kalou has not prevented the restart of the Bundesliga. But it apparently once again sharpened the senses of those involved.
Before play resumed on May 16, professionals and officials insisted that they were aware of both the seriousness of the situation and their responsibilities.
DFL boss Christian Seifert, who led German soccer to the possibly saving club livelihood permission to play, warned before the restart. "Everyone has to be clear that we are playing on probation and every match day is a chance that we deserve the next one," said Seifert after Kalou released a live video from the cabin during the week, in which a lot of hygiene and Security requirements had been disregarded: "I expect everyone to take responsibility."
Dortmund's captain Marco Reus also demanded that he and his colleagues should "handle this opportunity responsibly". The national team warned that they "should be role models when it comes to hygiene measures".
National team colleague Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen said: "We are very aware that this is a special situation and that we, as professional footballers, have a special responsibility". The privilege of being able to play again must be "justified by discipline and prudent behavior". His club boss Fernando Carro emphasized: "This is a great sign of trust, which we as a club with a high level of professionalism, discipline and a sense of responsibility must and must do justice to."
Thanks to its security concept, the Bundesliga is now becoming a role model for football across Europe. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin (52) believes "Germany will set a shining example for us all".
To make it work, all clubs pull their players and coaches together in hotels in so-called "quarantine training camps". This is to ensure that the season can really be played to the end.
DFL concept
DFL announcement
