Features

2020 In Review – May

The German Bundesliga blazed a trail for major European football leagues by returning to action on May 16, behind closed doors.

The German Football League (DFL) confirmed that the Bundesliga would restart on May 16 after Chancellor Angela Merkel said the league could resume following the COVID-19 outbreak. The English Premier League confirmed that it would resume its 2019-20 season on June 17, provided that all safety requirements were in place.

The Italian government gave Serie A the green light to resume its 2019-20 season on June 20, a week later than it had initially planned. However, in France much consternation was caused after the French Football League (LFP) confirmed that the 2019-20 league season would end, declaring Paris Saint-Germain as Ligue 1 champion.

In North America, the NHL spelled out its masterplan to resume its 2019-20 season by heading straight into an expanded playoffs, with 10 cities shortlisted to serve as two hubs for the action to take place. The NHL became the first US major league to set out a formal system for return to competition amid COVID-19.

In other news, Serie A clubs AC Milan and Inter Milan unveiled fresh details on two proposals to create a new stadium and sports and entertainment district on the site of their current home, the San Siro. Meanwhile, Cagliari agreed a deal with Sportium to deliver the final design for its new stadium.

Bouygues landed its second major contract in the space of a month for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the City of Paris announcing that it will lead a consortium that will develop Arena Porte de la Chapelle.

In Argentina, the government of the province of Santiago del Estero delivered the Estadio Único, one of the country’s venues for the postponed co-hosting of the Copa América national team football tournament.

Image: VfLWolfsburgFußball