It has been exactly 59 days since the German Football Association announced league play was postponed due to Covid-19; but on May 16, the Bundesliga will resume play with a six-match slate scheduled to start at 9:30 AM EST. Folks, live soccer is on the way.
1. Bundesliga is Back... or is it?
The German government approved the return which resumes on match day 26 featuring a derby between Borussia Dortmund and Shalke. All 36 clubs of the two upper tiers agreed to finish out the remainder of the season by mid-June. This restart plan however is already in jeopardy. The main issue every nation is dealing with... what to do if a player is tested positive with Covid-19. Is it best to isolate the single player or quarantine the entire squad and technical staff? Dynamo Dresden alone has three players that tested positive just days before they take to the pitch for the first time in months. German government approved of the league's proposed protocol of isolating the single infected player. However, there are 16 total states within the nation that each have their own local health ministries and independent regulations. As a result of Dresden's current Covid-19 legislation, the entire squad and technical staff is required to isolate. Already the team's match against Hanover is now postponed and this will result in a two week delay for any matches Dresden had planned previously.
2. Return of The Premier League
Today the United Kingdom's government approved a restart date of June 1 to finish out the rest of the Premier League slate behind closed doors. This is yet to be completely official as all 20 clubs still need to vote and approve the plan in the coming days. The big question will be how will the teams handle players who test positive for Covid-19, much like what we are seeing in the Bundesliga restart efforts.
3. With Flying Colors
(Photo Credit: The Sun)
Tottenham Hotspur winger Heung-Min Son has been wearing a different type of uniform the past few weeks than what we normally see him in. A National law states at all citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve at least two years in the military, and due to the star forward's hiatus from Premier League games thanks to Covid-19, the beloved Spur is passing with flying colors during his first few weeks of training. Son was just one of five out of the 157 cadets to be awarded and received the "Pilsung Prize" as one of the best performers.
In an interview with Yohap News Agency, a South Korean Marine Corps officer was quoted saying Son excelled in the shooting drills and struck the target 10 out of 10 tries. No different from his poaching runs against Premier League sides.
4. Casos En La Liga
Spain are also close behind the German Bundesliga in looking to finish out the remainder of the 2020 season. Five total players however between the 42 clubs in the top two leagues tested positive and are now required to isolate until two negative tests 72 hours apart are produced. La Liga has refused to release names of any of the players.
5. Momma Morgan
USWNT star striker Alex Morgan gave birth to her first child Thursday. Charlie Elena Carrasco made her first appearance into the world at just over eight pounds. Morgan married MLS player Servando Carrasco in 2014 and announced that the striker was pregnant in October.
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