The resumption of the 2019-20 Bundesliga season will see a ban on high fives, hugs, spitting, handshakes and team photos according to a leaked German Football League (DFL) document.
Bild cited the internal DFL document which was sent around to all 36 clubs from the German Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga ahead of the Saturday 16 May restart following the coronavirus-enforced break.
It is also understood that away teams could be awarded the points if large groups of fans congregate outside home venues, with matches to be played behind closed doors to reduce mass gatherings.
The Korean K League commenced this weekend in a sign of things to come in world football, with coaches wearing face masks and having to leave empty seats between each person on the bench. The DFL will employ a similar policy.
“The coach may remove the nose and mouth mask to call out instructions, as long as he keeps a minimum distance of 1.5 meters (5 feet) from all other people,” the document read according to Bild.
It’s understood individuals have been instructed to spend only “30 or 40 minutes” in the change-rooms, while there’s also a clear directive on how to celebrate goals, banning hugging or high fives, with “brief elbow or foot contact” only permitted.
Pre-game will also look different, with teams to enter the field of play from the tunnel at different times and not alongside each other, while there will be no pre-game handshakes or team photos. Child mascots have also been banned.
All this comes days after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Heads of States agreed to permit the top two German divisions to resume after the COVID-19 outbreak, which has seen more than 171,000 confirmed cases and 7,549 deaths in Germany.
The DFL have enforced strict medical protocols for the resumption of the leagues, but all this comes as second tier strugglers Dynamo Dresden announced their entire squad and coaching staff into two-week isolation after two players tested positive for coronavirus.
“In the past few weeks, we have made enormous efforts in terms of personnel and logistics in order to strictly implement all the prescribed medical and hygienic measures,” Dynamo sports manager Ralf Minge said.
“We are in contact with the responsible health authority and the DFL to coordinate all further steps.”
Dynamo, who are bottom of the 2.Bundesliga, are due to re-commence their season on Sunday 17 May at Hannover 96 which likely will not go ahead.
