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- Coronavirus
Hertha Berlin have announced that one of their players has tested positive for the Coronavirus without specifying which player. The entire club will be in quarantine going forward.
One of our players has unfortunately tested positive for Coronavirus. All players, coaches and backroom staff will now undergo the recommended 14-day isolation period. pic.twitter.com/vQcv7R7x9f
— Hertha Berlin (@HerthaBSC_EN) March 17, 2020
It is the second confirmed case of a Bundesliga player contracting the virus after Luca Kilian from SC Paderborn.
In other countries the situation is currently far worse. Spanish club FC Valencia has announced that about 35% of their squad have tested positive for the Coronavirus.
- BVB-ultras offer help
Borussia Dortmund’s ultras have put in place a service that offers to help people at risk. The groups offer to do the shopping or other essential courier services for people in and around Dortmund.
DANKE! Die Südtribüne bietet im gesamten Dortmunder Gebiet Hilfe an: https://t.co/PWxpvNWTCo
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) March 17, 2020
Today UEFA will discuss what to do with upcoming Euros and according to The Athletic they will ask the national associations to chip in 275£ million (~301.61€ million) to postpone the tournament until next year so that the national leagues could potentially finish their seasons this summer if the situation improves.
- DFL releases new statement
The DFL has released a new statement regarding the current situation and it does not contain any big surprises. The German leagues will not resume in the foreseeable future and are postponed until at least April 2nd, a new assessment will be made during the last week of March if possible:
The suspension of sporting competition will remain in place initially. For now, this concerns Matchday 27 of both leagues. In the last week of March, a decision is to be reached on how to proceed with reference to the match schedule.
The #DFL Ordinary Assembly has decided on a further postponement of the #Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 and agreed on a renewed club meeting in the last week of March ➡️ https://t.co/D1P8Dro0ht pic.twitter.com/3IVBZWt7iT
— DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga (@DFL_Official) March 16, 2020
In a press conference DFL-executive director Christian Seifert has reeiterated that matches behind closed doors will likely be a must because it is “the only chance of survival in the near future” for some clubs.
Seifert commented on those who are against matches behind closed doors:
“They no longer have to worry about whether we will soon be playing with 18 or 20 professional clubs in the Bundesliga. Because then there will be no more 18 professional clubs. [...] If you no longer have viewer income, TV revenue and, consequently, sponsorship revenue, then it goes well for a while, but doesn’t last very long.”
This highlights how fragile the football business is in the end. A lot of clubs will be at risk and suffer some substantial financial losses in the near future.