Fist bumps and masks: Professional soccer returns in Germany

Professional soccer resumed in Germany after a two-month break with 4 video games within the second division on Saturday going down behind closed doorways.

South Korea midfielder Lee Jae-sung scored the primary objective within the division to offer Holstein Kiel the lead at Jahn Regensburg. He celebrated by giving teammates fist bumps.

The video games had been the primary since soccer was placed on maintain March 13 as a result of coronavirus pandemic, and so they had been being performed in empty stadiums amid strict hygiene measures.

Goal celebrations in different video games had been additionally marked by fist bumps and elbow-to-elbow touching. Players had been warned to maintain their feelings in examine, and to desist from spitting, handshakes and hugging.

All gamers and group workers who didn’t begin video games wore masks. Substitutes took their positions within the stands, reasonably than beside the fields as customary. Balls and seats had been disinfected, and gamers had been handed masks as they left the sector at half time.

The Bundesliga was as a result of resume later Saturday, additionally with out followers, with the Ruhr derby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke the spotlight.

The recreation’s authorities had been eager to restart the nation’s prime two divisions with a number of golf equipment, together with Schalke, dealing with extreme monetary difficulties due to the pandemic-enforced suspension in play.

Numerous polls confirmed a rising majority in Germany was in opposition to the resumption of the leagues. Fans are additionally important of video games with out supporters current.

“Soccer without fans is nothing,” learn a joint assertion from a number of Bayern Munich fan teams after the league selected May 7 to renew.

Cologne followers accused authorities Saturday of prioritizing cash over individuals’s well being. There was criticism too from gamers.

Karlsruher SC midfielder Marc Lorenz, a substitute within the second division recreation in opposition to Darmstadt on Saturday, instructed the Badische Neueste Nachrichten newspaper that the league hadn’t thought-about the well being of the gamers “at all” in its rush to get again. He additionally warned of fatigue resulting in critical accidents.

Teams in each divisions are allowed 5 substitutions as an alternative of the same old three to assist cope after two months with out play.

Players and workers have been subjected to common testing for COVID-19. There had been three circumstances discovered at Cologne, whereas second-division Dynamo Dresden was ordered into 14 days of quarantine after two extra circumstances introduced its complete to 3 final Saturday. Dresden’s recreation in opposition to Hannover on Sunday was known as off, and the group can not practice in the course of the quarantine interval.

Augsburg coach Heiko Herrlich was as a result of make his debut in cost in opposition to Wolfsburg however will miss the sport after leaving the group lodge in strict quarantine circumstances to purchase toiletries. He will solely return after twice testing destructive for the virus.

Bayern Munich visits Union Berlin on Sunday.