09 April 2020

German football prepares to return as Bundesliga boss sets target of early May

The German Bundesliga is set to become the first major European league to return to action following the coronavirus pandemic.

All football has been suspended in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France since the severity of the outbreak increased, but Bundesliga sides are now back in training preparing for matches to re-start at the beginning of May.

Borussia Mönchengladbach hosted the final Bundesliga game before the coronavirus suspension on March 11 (PA Images)

And while all matches are expected to be played behind closed doors for the remainder of the season, the league's chief executive officer Christian Seifert insists football still has a part to play in helping the public through this difficult period.

Speaking to the New York Times, he said: “We are part of the culture in the country, people long to get back a short piece of normal life, and that could mean the Bundesliga plays again.

“This is why we have to play our role here, and that means to support the government and to talk with the government about when we will be able to play again.”

Bayern Munich currently sit top of the table, four points clear of Borussia Dortmund with nine games remaining.

The Bundesliga will become one of the first sporting competitions to return to UK TV as games will be shown live on BT Sport.

All 20 Premier League clubs met last week and decided that although the suspension of football only runs until April 30, it is unrealistic to think the competition can return at the start of May.

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