The Return of European Football?

Tarak Malhotra Staff Reporter, The Pawprint

Coronavirus had essentially put an end to European football for a while. However, situations regarding suspended football in Europe are starting to ease up, with many of Europe’s leagues beginning to return. 

In Germany, the Bundesliga is almost back, with matches being played behind closed doors. On the 16th of May, the first six fixtures were played, among them a huge title race game between second-place Borussia Dortmund and eighth place Schalke. Dortmund trumped Schalke 4-0, with goals coming from prolific youngster Erling Bruat Haaland, a brace from Raphael Guerreiro, and Thorgan Hazard. Although regulated matches are back, the Bundesliga are still taking social distancing precautions off the pitch. When a player is not on the field, they are to sit on the bench no less than two meters apart from their teammates. They are also to wear masks.

As for the English Premier League, the future is uncertain. Players are returning to training, barring Watford captain Troy Deeney. Upon being asked whether he is thinking about returning to training, he said he “will not return to training this week amid concerns for his own son’s health.” Deeney’s five-month old son has been having breathing difficulties, and Deeney doesn’t “want to come home and put him in more danger.” As for other teams in England’s top flight, training has resumed and the question as to whether or not football can resume during the summer is still active. Precautions have been made regarding training, with standard social distancing rules applied, and players not allowed to make tackles. The FA, however, have allowed league leaders and soon-to-be champions Liverpool to hold a title presentation, should the league be properly resumed anytime soon.

In Italy, as of the 19th of May, the green light has been given for group training to begin. However, a final decision will be made regarding the completion of the season on the 28th of May. The revised protocol will allow group training, but not oblige players to remain permanently in the team’s sports centre. In the case of a positive test only the infected player will be placed in two-week’s quarantine, while the team group will be placed in isolation, and monitored, but can continue to train together. Serie A teams have been training individually since May 4, and had been hoping to return to competition on June 13.