May 21 – On the back of last weekend’s successful resumption of the Bundesliga, the German FA (DBF) has confirmed that the women’s Bundesliga will restart later this month as well.
On Friday May 29 German champions and current league leaders VfL Wolfsburg will kick off the season again against FC Köln. The Women’s Cup final has been rescheduled to July 4, on the same day as the men’s equivalent.
“We’re delighted that we now finally have this security in our planning and can continue our preparations for the resumption of the season as planned,” said Wolfsburg director Ralf Kellerman.
The DFB’s decision came just days after the men’s Bundesliga became the first major European league to return to action. “I am very happy that the clubs of the Frauen Bundesliga have expressed their unity in favor of continuing the season,” said DFB president Fritz Keller in a statement. “This is exactly what we need in the crisis. The return of the Frauen Bundesliga is another important step towards a kind of normality in football as well as in society. The Frauen Bundesliga is thus taking on a pioneering role in international women’s football.”
Vice-President Hannelore Ratzeburg added that “the continuation of the season is a strong signal for women’s football and the equal treatment of professional athletes. We are aware of the great responsibility that the resumption of the season entails. I am convinced that our clubs will implement the requirements of the hygiene concept in a disciplined manner, even if it is exceptional circumstances, we are very happy that we now have the opportunity to conclude the Frauen Bundesliga and the DFB Cup for women in a sporting way.”
Siegfried Dietrich, who is the chairman of the DFB committee on women’s national leagues, expressed his gratitude to the German Football League. “Thanks again to the DFL and their Champions League clubs, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which with their solidarity fund provided an essential basis for the restart of the Frauen Bundesliga,” said Dietrich.
In France, Belgium and the Netherlands the season for both the men’s and women’s leagues have come to an end due to government restrictions to combat the coronavirus. In England, the expectation is that the Women’s Super League will be cancelled within the next few days with the final league positions to be decided on a points-per-game system based on results in the season so far. UEFA has set May 25 as a deadline for national associations to inform the governing body if they will complete their domestic seasons.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713493492labto1713493492ofdlr1713493492owedi1713493492sni@o1713493492fni1713493492