The Bundesliga is ready to return on May 9 if the German government gives it the green light, league officials have confirmed.
The league has been suspended since mid-March due to the outbreak of coronavirus, which has infected more than 148,000 and killed over 5,000 people in Germany.
Its resumption remains dependent on government and all federal states' approval, and Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert warned providing an exact date "would be presumptuous and is not in our hands".
"If we should start on May 9, we are ready. If it is later we will be ready again," Seifert said
We can only offer the framework conditions."
Finishing the 2019/20 season remains the priority in German football. Failing to do so would mean "the Bundesliga would be a collateral damage to the coronavirus crisis", said Seifert.
"I, as a representative of the professional clubs, cannot have that as my goal," he said.
The Bundesliga is collaborating with five different laboratories to ensure adequate testing for coronavirus.
The 7.5 million euro solidarity fund donated by Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen will go to the third division and women's Bundesliga.
Regional leaders in Bavaria and North-Rhine Westphalia said this week it was possible for the league to resume without spectators after May 9 and under strict health and safety conditions.
The league has warned that many clubs in the first and second divisions faced an uncertain financial future and several would be in an "existence-threatening" situation if play did not resume by June.
Some German shops opened for business again this week, after a month of lockdown, in an agreement with the leaders of Germany's 16 states.
The Bundesliga is ready to return on May 9 if the German government gives it the green light, league officials have confirmed.
The league has been suspended since mid-March due to the outbreak of coronavirus, which has infected more than 148,000 and killed over 5,000 people in Germany.
Its resumption remains dependent on government and all federal states' approval, and Bundesliga chief executive Christian Seifert warned providing an exact date "would be presumptuous and is not in our hands".
"If we should start on May 9, we are ready. If it is later we will be ready again," Seifert said
We can only offer the framework conditions."
Finishing the 2019/20 season remains the priority in German football. Failing to do so would mean "the Bundesliga would be a collateral damage to the coronavirus crisis", said Seifert.
"I, as a representative of the professional clubs, cannot have that as my goal," he said.
The Bundesliga is collaborating with five different laboratories to ensure adequate testing for coronavirus.
The 7.5 million euro solidarity fund donated by Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen will go to the third division and women's Bundesliga.
Regional leaders in Bavaria and North-Rhine Westphalia said this week it was possible for the league to resume without spectators after May 9 and under strict health and safety conditions.
The league has warned that many clubs in the first and second divisions faced an uncertain financial future and several would be in an "existence-threatening" situation if play did not resume by June.
Some German shops opened for business again this week, after a month of lockdown, in an agreement with the leaders of Germany's 16 states.
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