DFL clubs have begun detailed planning for allowing spectators in venues

As a result of the DFL’s virtual meeting hosted from Frankfurt earlier today, professional clubs across Germany have begun detailed planning for allowing portions of fans back inside venues at some point this upcoming season (AZ). Of course, what clubs decide in conjunction with the DFL still has to be approved on the state level by the appropriate authorities, but these are still big steps in the right direction.

DFL CEO Christian Seifert led the meeting and said that clubs were right to take proactive measures: “Of course you shouldn’t be reckless. But fear of what might happen shouldn’t paralyze us.”

RB Leipzig already plans on admitting 8,500 fans to the Red Bull Arena when they host Mainz for their opening match of the 2020/21 campaign on Sunday, September 20. They were the first club to get such plans approved. Now the rest of the clubs in Germany are trying to follow Leipzig’s footsteps. In Bayern Munich’s case, Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder has voiced grave concerns with allowing fans back into the Allianz Arena.

Despite certain roadblocks state to state, though, Seifert affirmed that all clubs have the proper planning and documentation in place: “All clubs have drawn up documents and are in talks with the authorities.” He continued by saying this upcoming season would be “probably the most demanding and difficult season in the history of professional football.”

While Seifert is an advocate for getting fans back into stadiums as safely as possible, he also acknowledges the concerns and fears of skeptics “The questions whether people in Bundesliga stadiums sends the wrong signal are absolutely justified,” he said. On the flip side, he said, “perhaps another perspective is also justified. That is, that it is an important sign. A sign that Thousands of people want to and can adhere to the rules of conduct.” These plans will work only if the fans follow all of the guidelines.