May 6 – The return of the Bundesliga to top-flight action has suffered a setback after Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted on a two-week quarantine period for players meaning games cannot resume until May 22 at the earliest.
There were originally hopes that German football would return to action on the weekend of May 15.
The isolation period could take the form of a training camp, according to German press agency DPA. The move will be noted by other major leagues hoping to complete their seasons especially as Germany has been at the forefront when dealing with Covid-19.
Reports in Germany suggest even May 22 is optimistic, a cautionary sign to the Premier League and others of the so-called Big Five hoping to resume in early June.
But at least the German government appears to have given the green light for a resumption, albeit under strict conditions.
Germany’s professional teams have been training since mid-April, divided into small groups, along with extensive testing of all players and coaching staff.
While France and the Netherlands have already terminated their respective leagues, there have been significantly fewer reported deaths in Germany than most other nations, while testing capabilities have been relatively high from the outset.
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