The return of elite football in Europe, the first case in Germany

Top-level football is back in Europe. The Bundesliga returned on May 16 with the 26th matchday after the Teutonic teams returned to training in advance, maintaining the recommended measures of protection and social distancing and after the relevant coronavirus tests were carried out on all players from the 36 professional clubs in the first and second divisions.

Ten people were found to be infected in these initial tests and those affected were subjected to quarantine and then re-tested with a view to returning to collective training if they did not test positive again. The Bundesliga issued a statement announcing the results of its first round of coronavirus testing to players, coaches and employees of German professional teams prior to the resumption of the competition.

The agency carried out thousands of tests among the 36 teams in both categories and 10 of them tested positive before the league restarted on May 16. The agency did not provide the identity or club of origin of the positives, but did advise that they would have to remain in quarantine and that precautionary measures would have to be taken in the teams concerned. 

Behind closed doors and with a maximum of 300 people in each stadium, the Teutonic championship returned after having come to a standstill on the 25th round. The main protagonist was Norway's Haaland, who scored the first goal after the return of the competition in the match between Schalke and Borussia Dortmund; a goal that will certainly go down in history. The first match at the Veltins Arena (Gelsenkirchen), the so-called derby of the Ruhr Basin, was remembered with images such as the players not hugging each other in the celebration of the goals (4-0 victory for the visiting team) and the sight of the respect for the regulation distance between the members of the bench, where masks and gloves were proliferating. 

During the Bundesliga games, it was clear that the benches were keeping a safe distance as required by the rules. However, it was impossible to control this during the game. Not even during substitutions, when there were several reflexes to greet the player coming in and the one being substituted, when it was recommended that this should not happen. 

There was also an express order to leave the pitch and return to the dressing rooms separately, but there were images of mixed teams walking together in the tunnels leading to dressing rooms at half-time and at the end of some matches, as could be seen in the match between Schalke and Borussia itself. 

The return brought with it the same sportive tonic. Life continues to be the same in the German Bundesliga, with leaders Bayern dominating the competition and eternal contenders Borussia Dortmund waiting for an error from the Bavarian team, the reigning champions and dominant force in the league in recent years, who are holding firm after winning both rounds of matches following their return to action. 

The most striking feature was the empty stands, precisely in a championship like the German one, where the stadiums are usually full to the brim.

On the other hand, in Spain, the rectors of the patriotic soccer agreed to go planning the return and certain positioning was arrived to return in the middle of June.

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, set the date of June 12 at the request of the Ministry of Health, while other dates were also being considered, such as June 20. Finally, the Government of Pedro Sanchez gave the green light to play from the week of June 8, which will comply with the forecast of Javier Tebas to restart the league tournament in the weekend of June 12. The competition stopped in Round 27 with leading FC Barcelona two points ahead of Real Madrid CF.

The teams returned to practice three weeks ago in various stages, first individually and then as a group, amidst extensive hygiene and protection measures and maintaining a distance, until they were able to resume normal football practice as far as possible. 

With the government's approval, the players were tested for the coronavirus and went into training. Although there were cases of positive as Renan Lodi, player of Atletico de Madrid (already recovered). 

There are other important leagues planning the return. In Italy, there is also a call for an early return; the government of the transalpine country intends to return as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the president of the Italian Federation, Gabriele Gravina, is convinced that the season will resume in June, after the collective training of the squads returned on May 18 after the authorization of the Executive.  "I can't be the one to bury Italian football," said the head of Calcio, whose leader is Juventus, one point ahead of Lazio after 26 rounds of matches. The government has now authorised the proposal to return on 13 June. 

In the United Kingdom, the Premier League calendar was put back with 29 rounds played and Liverpool leading the way, 25 points ahead of Manchester City, a condition that brings them irretrievably closer to the championship. However, they must secure their title and need a return to the league. 

The teams have returned to training with certain care and precautions such as training individually, avoiding contact and conducting the activity at different times.

The search for the resumption of the championship is focused on June 12, a prudent time to ensure the ideal sports preparation, that the quarantine takes effect and that the COVID-19 pandemic decreases. What is clear is that the return will be with closed-door matches, as has happened in Germany.