The Bundesliga secured agreements with rights holder Sky and "all but one broadcaster" for payments for the rest of the '19-20 season that will "help keep clubs afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic," German Football League (DFL) CEO Christian Seifert said on Thursday. A restart is expected some time in May "but it is up to the government to give the green light." Seifert: "If we should start on May 9, we are ready. If it is later we will be ready again." He added that the deal with broadcasters "made sure clubs would have enough liquidity until June 30." Should the season be abandoned, "they would have to pay back some of the amount," Seifert said (REUTERS, 4/23).
Seifert said that only around 200 people "will be allowed in the stadium for each game, including players, coaches, officials and media." The leaders of the "powerful states" of Bavaria -- home to Bayern Munich -- and the soccer "hotbed state" of North-Rhine Westphalia backed the league's resumption. Bavaria state leader Markus Soeder, however, made it clear that soccer will not be given a "blank cheque" to continue at a time of competing funding priorities, and the situation will be "constantly reviewed" (AFP, 4/23).
