Nuremberg (AP) - Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is extremely critical of a return of spectators in the Bundesliga at the start of the season.
"I was very committed to the start of ghost games, which is also going very well. But when the stadium is full for the Bundesliga start, I am extremely skeptical. I can not imagine it at the moment," said the Prime Minister in Nuremberg. "It is also not wise if we start school when we have the beginning of autumn to consider that we then have an additional 20,000, 25,000 people in the stadiums," said Söder.
In the last week of August he will try to hold a prime ministerial conference on the Bundesliga in coordination with the federal government, said Söder after an unscheduled video conference in his cabinet. "I can imagine full stadiums during the season, but not at the start of the Bundesliga."
The Bundesliga starts the new season on the third weekend in September. The concept of the German Football League for a possible return provides an initially reduced return of fans without standing room, without alcohol and without guest fans. Tickets should only be issued on a personalized basis. This is intended to reduce the risk of infection in the corona pandemic. The DFL concept had received recognition, but there had also been criticism and doubts.
The concepts could theoretically have good approaches, but putting it into practice is very difficult, said Söder. "But it would also have a devastating signal effect to the public. Both in terms of capacities in the medical field as well as in relation to cultural events."
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Cabinet Bavaria
Information about the coronavirus in Bavaria
Information on the corona virus at the Robert Koch Institute
Bundesliga resolutions on the possible return of spectators
Information Bavarian Football Association on the coronavirus pandemic