The 36 German clubs of the first and second divisions formally confirmed Tuesday the interruption of the German Championship at least until April 30 and admitted the possibility of ending the season behind closed doors, because of the pandemic of new coronavirus .
The goal of the DFL, repeated its president Christian Seifert, in an online press conference, "is to finish the season before June 30", while it remains in total, counting the German Cup, 14 more dates to be found for the German clubs (nine championship days, two jump-up / down-jump games, semi-finals and cup final, and one late championship match).
The League at the bedside of clubs in difficulty
Ending the season is vital for professional football, deprived of any cash inflow since the interruption of competitions. Playing, even behind closed doors, would at least pay TV rights, the main source of revenue for first division clubs. "At least until the end of the season, it's unrealistic to think that we're going to replay in full stadiums," said Seifert, which doesn't mean it's unrealistic to resume in full stadiums. August ".
However, he admitted, it will be necessary for clubs to consider in their accounts the possibility of having no ticketing revenue for several months, "and perhaps even at the start of next season". To help clubs on the verge of bankruptcy, the DFL will relax the rules of its management control, also announced President Seifert. "If a club were to default, the normal penalty, a withdrawal of 9 points, would not be applied," he said in particular.
- Sport
- Containment
- Covid 19
- Coronavirus
- Germany
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