German league sticks to resumption plan despite Dresden quarantine

Germany's plans to restart competitive soccer on May 16 suffered an early setback after the entire team of second-tier Dynamo Dresden were placed in a two-week quarantine following two positive coronavirus tests. Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Germany's plans to restart competitive soccer on May 16 suffered an early setback after the entire team of second-tier Dynamo Dresden were placed in a two-week quarantine following two positive coronavirus tests. Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Published May 10, 2020

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FRANKFURT - German professional football is still planning on

restarting the season next weekend but the league's chief has

acknowledged that more positive coronavirus tests like those at

second division Dynamo Dresden could cause havoc.

"We are not changing the goal at the moment," German Football League

(DFL) chief executive Christian Seifert told ZDF television late on

Saturday.

But if other whole squads are ordered into quarantine "then at some

point this will no longer be feasible," he added.

The DFL has a policy that only infected players have to go into

quarantine, but the local health authority is in ultimate charge.

It has decided all of Dresden's squad must be isolated for 14 days

despite only two players testing positive in a third wave of tests.

One team-mate was positive in a first test.

The ruling means their first two games following the restart must be

postponed. They were due to face Hanover next Sunday and Greuther

Fuerth a week later.

The DFL got the go ahead from the German government on Wednesday for

the Bundesliga and second division to resume the season without fans

in stadiums following a two-month suspension due to the coronavirus

crisis.

A restart next weekend was perfect timing for the DFL as it meant it

could squeeze the remaining nine rounds of the season in before the

traditional end to the campaign on June 30 - when player and

broadcast contracts may be up.

Now bottom side Dresden will almost certainly have to play at least

two games beyond that point.

"We are in contact with the responsible health authority and the

German football league to coordinate all further steps," Dresden

sporting director Ralf Minge said.

Germany is the first major European football league to be allowed to

resume amid the coronavirus pandemic and the restart was being

closely watched by other countries such as England, which hopes to

start up again next month.

The Dresden issue will have spooked some itching for a return in

other nations but Seifert is standing firm, stating that the

procedures put in place are designed to stop infected players taking

to the pitch.

"It was absolutely clear that this could happen," he said.

The DFL had announced that there had been 10 positive tests from a

first tranche of checks, including three at Bundesliga side Cologne.

However, Cologne did not go into full quarantine, with even one of

their own players questioning the decision.

Second division Aue did decide to go into full quarantine but will be

out of it for next weekend's resumption - assuming there are no more

positive tests.

dpa

Related Topics:

coronavirus