Rummenigge expects 'billions' to watch Bundesliga restart
(dpa)
Frankfurt (dpa) - Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expects "billions" to watch the Bundesliga restart at the weekend while the German Football League (DFL) wants clubs to approve an emergency scenario should the season have to be abandoned.
Rummenigge told Wednesday's edition of the Sport Bild weekly that the Bundesliga will get plenty of attention which could showcase the whole nation amid the coronavirus crisis.
“The Bundesliga is now the first major league in the world to resume playing. And if the Bundesliga is the only league around the world to be broadcast on TV, then I assume that we will have an audience of billions all over the world," Rummenigge said.
"It will not only be an advertisement for our football, for the Bundesliga, but for the whole country and especially for German politics, which made this possible with its very good approach.
"When I was a young guy, 'Made in Germany' was a trademark. This has been somewhat lost in recent years. The restart of the Bundesliga also shows: 'Made in Germany' is an absolute seal of approval again."
State authorities last week gave permission for the Bundesliga and second tier to restart under strict hygiene and safety rules drawn up by the DFL and German Football Federation (DFB).
Nine rounds are left to play and according to the Bild paper the DFL wants clubs to approve a worst-case scenario at the next assembly on Thursday - crowning a champion and relegating the bottom two if the season can't be completed.
However, it remains unclear what would happen if teams have not played the same number of matches.
The report also said that the number of Bundesliga and second division teams shouldn't be increased and that clubs would also be asked to permit an extension of the season beyond June 30, if necessary.
“The Bundesliga is now the first major league in the world to resume playing. And if the Bundesliga is the only league around the world to be broadcast on TV, then I assume that we will have an audience of billions all over the world," Rummenigge said.
"It will not only be an advertisement for our football, for the Bundesliga, but for the whole country and especially for German politics, which made this possible with its very good approach.
"When I was a young guy, 'Made in Germany' was a trademark. This has been somewhat lost in recent years. The restart of the Bundesliga also shows: 'Made in Germany' is an absolute seal of approval again."
State authorities last week gave permission for the Bundesliga and second tier to restart under strict hygiene and safety rules drawn up by the DFL and German Football Federation (DFB).
Nine rounds are left to play and according to the Bild paper the DFL wants clubs to approve a worst-case scenario at the next assembly on Thursday - crowning a champion and relegating the bottom two if the season can't be completed.
However, it remains unclear what would happen if teams have not played the same number of matches.
The report also said that the number of Bundesliga and second division teams shouldn't be increased and that clubs would also be asked to permit an extension of the season beyond June 30, if necessary.