German Chancellor Angela Merkel has given a go-ahead for the German league to restart by May 15th.
The German Football League (DFL) confirmed the restart date to AFP subsidiary SID on Wednesday night.
“After weighing up all the arguments, the DFL Executive Committee decided today… to resume play in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga from 15 May 2020,” the DFL said in a statement to magazine Kicker.
Germany’s top-flight will become the first of Europe’s major leagues to return to the field.
“Matches will be allowed under the approved rules,” said Merkel at a press conference in Berlin.
Germany’s top politicians approved a plan for the Bundesliga to resume in stadiums without spectators and with players regularly tested.
Permission was granted on condition that strict guidelines are followed — with a hygiene officer appointed to each team — to prevent contagion of the virus.
Bayern Munich and Germany captain Manuel Neuer said the players now had an “enormous responsibility” to be role models and follow the hygiene guidelines.
Representatives from the 36 clubs in the country’s top two divisions will finalise details in a videoconference on Thursday.
