Following a recommendation from Jens Spahn, Germany’s Federal Minister of Health, the Executive Committee of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga held lengthy discussions yesterday about the potential effects of the coronavirus on the matches of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. Considering the fact that the local government authorities will decide over consequences at each stadium location, and based on the latest information, the DFL Executive Committee has agreed on the following:
- Unless local government authorities stipulate otherwise, the matches for the upcoming Matchday 26 will be held for both leagues. The DFL Executive Committee has also decided that matches which, due to decisions by local authorities, must limit the number of people in the stadium for example, will be held on Matchday 26 in compliance with the relevant ordinances. The clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 will continue to work closely with the responsible authorities at each location to decide on the schedules of further matchdays.
- The current 2019-20 season must, as planned, be played until summer 2020 in order to determine which teams will be promoted and which will be relegated, as well as to decide on the participants for international competitions. In spite of the difficult circumstances, this is the only way for clubs and DFL to plan reliably for the coming season – for example also with regard to players’ contracts that apply to one league only.
- The DFL Executive Committee has decided that, at the start of next week, it will invite all Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs to an extraordinary ordinary assembly in order to hold discussions on the further course of the season, taking the potential effects of the coronavirus into account. Further consideration of scheduling flexibility may require a distinction between the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. If matches are delayed as a result, the DFL Executive Committee is of the opinion that this can be applied only to full matchdays as a whole.
- With regard to possible scheduling flexibility, the DFL will communicate with DFB and UEFA to see if a delay of league matchdays until the end of May is theoretically possible.
- In terms of financial impacts, the clubs must consider their own individual situations. However, the DFL is considering changes to the licensing process for the coming 2020-21 season in order to counteract any financial disadvantages due to the effects of the coronavirus. Based on its statutes the DFL is also considering the possibility of customizing payment dates for centrally generated income in order to protect clubs from potential liquidity bottlenecks.
