Bundesliga Hopes Gov't Will Approve May Restart Date

The German Football League (DFL) "hopes to get the go-ahead" from Chancellor Angela Merkel's government for the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga to "resume next month -- possibly on May 9 or 16."  There are "hopes a decision will be made Thursday." With large public events banned in Germany until August 31, the "only viable option for league action to resume next month would be in empty grounds." The DFL is "desperate for the season to be finished by June 30" to secure an instalment of television money, reportedly worth around €300M ($326M). An issue that "needs to be clarified is the testing of players and backroom staff every few days" (AFP, 4/20).