Ruqayyah Snyder
The Austrian Bundesliga, the country's professional football league, resumed on June 2, 2020, after a coronavirus shutdown. The government gave the go-ahead for the league to restart without spectators, with matches held every three days to clear the fixture backlog.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of resumption | 2nd June 2020 |
| Number of days between matches | 3 |
| Date of full training resumption | 15th May 2020 |
| Date of Austrian Cup final | 29th May 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
Austrian Bundesliga to resume on June 2, 2020
The Austrian Bundesliga, the country's professional football league, was set to resume on June 2, 2020, after being halted due to the coronavirus outbreak. The league's Chief Executive, Christian Ebenbauer, announced that the league would restart four days after the Austrian Cup final on May 29, with matches being held every three days to clear the backlog.
Ebenbauer expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, "Today is a good day. I am glad to announce that under the current status quo and if things remain as they are, soccer will return to the pitch on May 29." He emphasized the importance of prioritizing health and acknowledged the challenges ahead, both organizationally and financially. Matches without spectators were considered an emergency plan rather than a long-term solution.
The top-flight teams returned to training on April 20, with players divided into small groups, and full training was scheduled to resume on May 15. To complete the fixture schedule by the first week of July, it was decided that matches would be conducted every three days. At that point, there were still 10 rounds remaining in the championship, with the 12 teams divided into two groups: the championship group, comprising the top six teams, and the relegation group, consisting of the bottom six.
LASK Linz, aiming for their second title since 1965, led the championship group by three points ahead of titleholders Salzburg, while Rapid Vienna trailed by four points. St Poelten found themselves at the bottom of the relegation group. The Austrian Football Federation's (OFB) Cup final featured Red Bull Salzburg, the Bundesliga champions sitting in second place in the league, against second division Austria Lustenau.
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Matches to be held every three days
Austria's Bundesliga, the country's professional soccer league, was set to resume on June 2, 2020, with matches to be held every three days. The decision to resume the league came after the government gave the go-ahead for the league to restart without spectators due to the coronavirus shutdown. The league's Chief Executive, Christian Ebenbauer, announced the resumption of the league, stating that it would restart four days after the Austrian Cup final on May 29, 2020.
To address the backlog of matches caused by the coronavirus shutdown, the league planned to hold games every three days. This decision was made to ensure the fixture schedule could be completed by the first week of July. At the time of the announcement, there were still 10 rounds remaining in the championship, with 12 teams split into two groups: the championship group and the relegation group.
The top-flight teams had returned to training on April 20, with players divided into small groups. Full training was scheduled to resume on May 15, and players would undergo testing before each match. The Austrian Football Federation's (OFF) cup final featured Red Bull Salzburg, the Bundesliga champions, and second division Austria Lustenau. LASK Linz was aiming for their second title, while Rapid Vienna was also in contention.
The resumption of the league was welcomed by Ebenbauer, who emphasized the importance of prioritizing health and ensuring that matches without fans were only an emergency measure and not a long-term solution. The Bundesliga in Austria faced organizational and financial challenges due to the coronavirus shutdown, and the return of soccer was seen as a positive step forward.
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Full training to resume on May 15
Full training will resume on May 15, 2020, for Austria's top-flight teams. The teams returned to training on April 20, with players divided into small groups. Players will be tested before each match.
The Austrian Bundesliga, the country's professional soccer league, will resume on June 2, with matches every three days to clear the backlog built up during the coronavirus shutdown. The government gave the go-ahead for the league to resume without spectators. The league's chief executive, Christian Ebenbauer, said:
> "Today is a good day. I am glad to announce that under the current status quo and if things remain as they are, soccer will return to the pitch on May 29. We will start with the OFB Uniqa Cup on May 29, and a couple of days later, on June 2, the Tipico Bundesliga will continue."
Ebenbauer added that matches without fans are "an emergency plan and no future solution for football".
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Players to be tested before each match
The Austrian Bundesliga, the country's professional football league, was set to resume on June 2, 2020, after being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league's chief executive, Christian Ebenbauer, announced that the league would hold matches every three days to clear the backlog. Full training was scheduled to resume on May 15, and players would be tested before each match.
The top-flight teams returned to training on April 20, with players divided into small groups. The Austrian government gave the go-ahead for the league to restart without spectators. Following a meeting of clubs, Ebenbauer confirmed the restart date of June 2, four days after the Austrian Cup final on May 29.
Ebenbauer expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, "Today is a good day. I am glad to announce that under the current status quo and if things remain as there are, soccer will return to the pitch on May 29." He emphasized the importance of prioritizing health and acknowledged the challenges ahead, both organizationally and financially. He also noted that matches without fans were only a temporary solution and not a sustainable future for football.
The schedule aimed to complete the fixture by the first week of July, with ten rounds remaining in the championship. The 12 teams were split into two groups: the championship group, comprising the top six teams, and the relegation group, consisting of the bottom six. LASK Linz was leading the championship group, closely followed by titleholders Salzburg and Rapid Vienna. Meanwhile, St Poelten found themselves at the bottom of the relegation group.
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No spectators allowed
In 2020, the Austrian government gave the go-ahead for the country's professional soccer league, the Bundesliga, to resume on June 2. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, matches would be held without spectators in the stands. The league's Chief Executive, Christian Ebenbauer, acknowledged that "matches without fans are an emergency plan and no future solution for football."
Indeed, the absence of spectators presented significant organisational and financial challenges for the league. Typically, spectator attendance is a crucial source of revenue for sports leagues, through ticket sales, concessions, and merchandise. With no fans present, the Bundesliga had to rely on other sources of income, such as broadcasting rights and sponsorships. This may have resulted in a financial strain on the league and its clubs, potentially impacting their ability to cover operational costs and player salaries.
In addition to financial implications, the absence of spectators also altered the atmosphere and dynamics of the matches themselves. Football games are often known for their lively and passionate crowds, which can influence player motivation and performance. Playing in empty stadiums may have impacted the morale and energy of the players, potentially affecting the quality of the game.
Furthermore, the lack of spectators may have impacted the fan experience and engagement with the league. Fans who are accustomed to attending games in person were unable to show their support and encouragement to their favourite teams and players. This could have led to a sense of detachment and a decrease in fan enthusiasm, potentially affecting viewership and interest in the league.
While the decision to resume the Bundesliga without spectators was necessary to prioritise health and safety, it undoubtedly presented challenges for the league, clubs, players, and fans alike. The Bundesliga had to navigate through these uncharted waters, adapting to the new normal of playing matches behind closed doors.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria's Bundesliga resumed on June 2, 2020, after being suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Matches were held every three days to clear the backlog.
The top-flight teams returned to training on April 20, 2020, with players divided into small groups. Full training resumed on May 15, and players were tested before each match.
