Bundesliga: the idea of ​​a return of supporters to the stadiums rejected

"Thousands of supporters in the stadiums, it does not go with the current evolution" of the number of infections, judged Jens Spahn in a tweet published at the end of a meeting with the regional ministers of health. "It is now a question of not taking avoidable risks", noted the Conservative minister. “We feel that we must remain vigilant. In the current situation, thousands of fans in the stadiums would be a bad signal. "

"READ ALSO -  Coronavirus: two positive players at Atlético, concern before the C1

The German Football League (DFL) advocates a partial return of the public to the Bundesliga stadiums, whose new season is due to start in mid-September. In this regard, she presented a detailed health protocol in July. At the beginning of August, the 36 German professional clubs of the first and second division had agreed on this model proposed by the DFL to allow the return of the supporters. Among the proposed measures are a ban on standing, the sale of alcohol in stadiums until October, as well as fan travel for away matches until the end of the year.

"Professional football is not at the top of the priority list of ministers of health"

But the German authorities had not hidden their caution, while many are worried about a rebound in the epidemic, in particular thanks to the returns of stays abroad by German holidaymakers. “Professional football is not at the top of the list of priorities for health ministers,” warned the president of the conference of regional health ministers, Dilek Kalayci, before Monday's meeting. Jens Spahn judged that the protocol of the football league was "good in theory" but that what was "decisive" was "the daily practice".

"The danger of massive contamination would be real"

Markus Söder, the leader of Bavaria - home to the country's most successful club, Bayern Munich - also expressed his skepticism, saying that it would not be "smart" to have "20,000 to 25,000 people in the stadiums ”when the children in his region are already going back to school for the start of the new school year. The federation of German doctors, the "Marburger Bund", has also spoken out against the reopening of the stands: "The danger of massive contamination would be real", assured its president Susanne Johna in the daily Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung .

After a forced break, the Bundesliga was able to resume in the spring to end the season, but matches were being played behind closed doors. In Germany, a federal country, the Länder (regional states) are responsible for preventive measures against the coronavirus. Germany has already decided that all large gatherings will remain prohibited until October 31.

Read also

• Meunier gives his truth: "PSG and Leonardo were not very correct"