A final decision on the resumption on the Bundesliga is close with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to meet the 16 state leaders on a video call on Wednesday to discuss the situation.
The DFL is optimistic it will receive the green light following the video call, with the Bundesliga paused by the COVID-19 outbreak with most clubs having nine matches to complete.
“The (DFL’s) basic concept makes sense and could serve as a model for other professional sports but we have to see how it goes,” German health minister Jens Spahn told radio station Deutschlandfunk.
All Bundesliga clubs have already returned to limited training to enable a resumption of competitive games, although those plans were set back on Monday after 10 positive tests.
FC Koln announced on Friday that three people at their club had tested positive and had been quarantined but had no more cases following a second round of testing on Monday.
It is understood that more than 700 players, coaches and staff were tested at Bundesliga clubs and the DFL are satisfied that only 10 cases isn’t a threat to the league’s resumption.
As part of the DFL proposal, there is regular testing of all 36 top two division clubs under strict hygiene protocols.
Merkel is expected to make an announcement on Wednesday which may see Germany become the first of Europe’s major leagues resume, while neighbours France, Belgium and the Netherlands have already abandoned their top flight competitions.
Germany has had more than 167,000 cases which is relatively comparable to Spain, Italy, United Kingdom and France but recorded less than 7,000 deaths, which is far below the other major European nations.
Meanwhile, Spahn slammed the actions of Hertha Berlin’s Salomon Kalou but praised his club for their swift action after he was caught not upholding hygiene guidelines by shaking hands with teammates at training and making light of the coronavirus by shouting it lightheartedly. Hertha immediately suspended Kalou.
“It was important that the club show there were consequences after this video and I hope that everyone has now understood that this is about something serious,” Spahn said.