Unlike the first hard Corona lockdown in spring, professional sport can initially continue its competitions this time. This emerges from the decision of the Bund-Länder-Round with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) on Sunday, in which professional sport is not explicitly mentioned in the further restrictions.
Football, handball and the like, which have been taking place in front of empty spectators since the partial lockdown at the beginning of November, were also not an issue at the subsequent press conference.
While public life, including retail and schools, is to be drastically shut down from Wednesday until January 10, the national sports leagues can continue to play without fans around the turn of the year.
Relaxation in sport is also off the table until after the start of the New Year. Accordingly, for the time being, for example, fans are still not allowed at professional sports events in the stadiums and arenas.
“The ongoing corona pandemic has an impact on public and economic life, including professional sport, of course,” said Christian Seifert, Managing Director of the German Football League, at the general meeting of the 36 professional clubs on Monday.
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The Bundesliga clubs are losing millions with the ghost games, but because of the TV money they are dependent on being able to play at least in front of empty stands. Seifert put the loss of viewer money at a total of “around 650 million euros” this season.
In spring, the Bundesliga was interrupted for more than two months in mid-March, before it continued in empty arenas from May. Other sports like ice hockey or handball broke off their season completely and paused much longer.
Since the partial lockdown at the beginning of November, not only spectators in professional sport, but also all amateur and junior sport have been banned. (dpa)
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