Photos

Eerie silence, five substitutes, elbow celebrations as Bundesliga becomes first major football league to resume amid COVID-19

Bundesliga became the first major football league to restart amid the coronavirus pandemic on 16 May. However, empty stands and eerie silence greeted the players at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park in Ruhr derby

FP Sports May 18, 2020 14:11:01 IST
Bundesliga became the first major football league to restart amid the coronavirus pandemic, on 16 May. However, empty stands and eerie silence greeted the players at Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park. AP
1/8
Bundesliga became the first major football league to restart amid the coronavirus pandemic, on 16 May. However, empty stands and eerie silence greeted the players at Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park. AP
Borussia Dortmund provided early fireworks with a 4-0 demolition of bitter rivals Schalke. Goal celebrations, much like in other games, were limited to occasional elbow or fist bump or simply smiles. AP
2/8
Borussia Dortmund provided early fireworks with a 4-0 demolition of bitter rivals Schalke. Goal celebrations, much like in other games, were limited to occasional elbow or fist bump or simply smiles. AP
Only Hertha Berlin’s players violated the rules when they celebrated their goals in the usual way as a group during a 3-0 win against Hoffenheim. AP
3/8
Only Hertha Berlin’s players violated the rules when they celebrated their goals in the usual way as a group during a 3-0 win against Hoffenheim. AP
Borussia Moenchengladbach went past Eintracht Frankfurt with early goals from Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram and a late Ramy Bensebaini penalty to win 3-1. AP
4/8
Borussia Moenchengladbach went past Eintracht Frankfurt with early goals from Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram and a late Ramy Bensebaini penalty to win 3-1. AP
Robert Lewandowski scored the opening goal for defending champions Bayern Munich, who returned to action with a 2-0 win against Union Berlin on Sunday. AP
5/8
Robert Lewandowski scored the opening goal for defending champions Bayern Munich, who returned to action with a 2-0 win against Union Berlin on Sunday. AP
Mask wearing substitutes, dispersed in the stands to keep them apart, cheered their on-field teammates from the sidelines. AP
6/8
Mask wearing substitutes, dispersed in the stands to keep them apart, cheered their on-field teammates from the sidelines. AP
With a strict health protocol governing the fragile restart of the league, balls were disinfected as one of the precautions in wake of the COVID-19. Importantly, football-starved fans finally heaved a sigh of relief after witnessing some of their favourite footballers in action, be it from the television. AP
7/8
With a strict health protocol governing the fragile restart of the league, balls were disinfected as one of the precautions in wake of the COVID-19. Importantly, football-starved fans finally heaved a sigh of relief after witnessing some of their favourite footballers in action, be it from the television. AP
Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had predicted a global television audience of one billion for the Bundesliga, which has set the blueprint for other football leagues. AP
8/8
Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had predicted a global television audience of one billion for the Bundesliga, which has set the blueprint for other football leagues. AP