Bundesliga to resume, but at what cost?

Disgraced former Fifa president Sepp Blatter was a vociferous proponent of the “specificity of football” concept.

The Swiss octogenarian, who stumbled and fell over some dubious dealings involving several million Swiss francs with his erstwhile friend and potential successor Michel Platini, argued that sport in general and football in particular can – and should not – be compared with other areas of society.

At the moment, Blatter, presumably ensconced in his chalet somewhere high on the Swiss Alps, would have a lot to say about football and the Covid-19 coronavirus, and would presumably be fully supportive of German football officials.

Like most football leagues throughout Europe, the German Bundesliga has ground to a halt owing to the Covid-19 pandemic that has swept through the world. But this could well change as early as the middle of this month if plans by the German Football League (DFL) are accepted by government and various other stakeholders.

All Bundesliga clubs receive the majority of their income from marketing rights, which mainly comprise income generated from the sale of broadcasting rights in Germany and the rest of the world.

READ: Bundesliga determined to finish the current season

Broadcasters are, not surprisingly, not willing to pay any outstanding amounts for the rest of the season, or are asking for money back unless matches are played, which in turn will allow the broadcasters to sell advertising.

DFL head Christian Seifert already said at the beginning of last month that at least 13 of the 36 clubs in the first and second Bundesliga were facing bankruptcy if the season was not finished, as they had already used money that they were to still receive.

In the event of further instalments from the league not being forthcoming, they would be unable to repay the money they had loaned in anticipation of the expected income.

This prompted the DFL to work out a plan that would allow it to continue the season, albeit without fans in the stadiums.

These plans, however, have been criticised on several fronts. German sports philosopher Gunter Gebauer is one of those questioning the DFL’s sense of urgency.

“I think it would be the wrong reaction completely. Football always dominates the headlines and it is doing so now. For weeks, the focus has been on football and this has mobilised politics. It is not only football that has mobilised, it is also politicians who are stoking the fire,” Gebauer said.

“For politicians who want to be popular, speaking about football is a way to achieve that.

“Football likes to see itself as a role model, but, at the moment, it is far from that and the sport is simply confirming that for those who look at professional football critically.”

Gebauer told journalists that it would be irresponsible to play football under the current circumstances.

“Singing, theatre, drama, sitting together in the pub – anything with close and physical contact is strictly forbidden.

“But then it would make sense to allow a full contact sport such as football? For other sports such as rowing, weightlifting or golf, where you can keep your distance, returning to competition is not being considered as strongly.”

He also questioned the atmosphere that would be created by matches without fans.

“Football in huge stadiums without fans? I know empty stadiums. You stand on the pitch and look at the empty stands; that is a pretty terrible experience and the players will feel the same.”

Surprisingly, an association that consists of Ultras fan clubs from all over Germany has also come out against the Bundesliga’s plans.

“Football is of great importance in Germany, but it is certainly not the most important thing.

“Restrictions that apply to comparable areas of the sports and entertainment industry must also apply to football. At a time when we are all accepting massive restrictions on our fundamental rights in the interests of the common good, it is out of the question that Bundesliga matches go ahead. It is time that the football world stopped being completely out of sync with the rest of society.”

German rower Hannes Ocik, who won silver at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was training for Tokyo 2020, said that football had shown its true colours during this time.

“It is not about having the fans in the stadium supporting their team. The clubs are economic machines like all other companies. It is all about business and huge, huge amounts of money.

“But should politicians allow football to play matches in the near future, one would need to have a debate about the so-called specificity of football. I think it is not understandable why football wants to continue at all costs.”

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