The Bundesliga is proposing to return behind closed doors in the coming months – and a plan of action has been drawn up.
Bundesliga journalist Ronan Murphy has tweeted out some of its intricacies, which could be potentially used as a benchmark for other European leagues, including the Premier League, to return.
It includes a maximum number of people per stadium (including players, management and support staff) as well as a key point: group quarantine not essential if a player catches COVID-19.
Leaked document on the Bundesliga return
✅ Max of 322 people (players, staff, media, medical, etc.) at any game
✅ Temperature checks at entrance
✅ No requirement for group quarantine if positive test
✅ No shaking hands or team photos
✅ No mixed zone or live press conferences— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) April 23, 2020
It’s a fairly bold strategy, and one that leaves us with more questions. If a player competes in a game of contact football and a few days later finds out he has COVID-19, can we really expect the rest of the footballers on that field to carry on playing without a test – just a ‘temperature check’?
Obviously, we hope it works – as a major European league proving it’s doable will help football in England return and will therefore enable Liverpool to win the title.