Prospects of reopening the German Bundesliga matches have opened debate that seeks to bring clarity and establish standard modalities how such matches could be staged amid the coronavirus global threat.
The plan is to stage these matches behind closed doors but questions have risen whether indeed there can be spectator- free matches even behind closed doors with the presence of technical staff members.
Apart from players, technical staff include: coaching staff, medics, referees, ball boys and ball girls, ground staff, technicians, safety officers, and production staff for television and VAR being present inside the stadiums. And league officials estimate that up to 300 people are needed per match.
This could be too much as the German government has banned all public gatherings until 24 October. The question is will the government not consider the gathering of 300 people as a public gathering.
However, so far the German government has recorded less infections and casualties on coronavirus than many other European countries due to persistent testing. Call it German efficiency and it has served them well over the years.
The English Premier League is also mulling over a similar plan as the German Bundesliga. They are negotiating with government to start staging matches behind closed doors from June.
They will get more impetus from how the German scenario is going to pan out. If Germany succeeds in holding matches behind closed doors, more European countries like Italy, France, Spain and England will be encouraged.
