Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge fears that football faces big danger if games have to continue being played behind closed doors.
Should the season even have to be abandoned owing to the coronavirus, a number of clubs will not survive, he said.
Germany ended the past season behind closed doors.
But while fans are in theory allowed back in now, the final saying is with health authorities who make decisions based on local infection levels.
While Borussia Dortmund had 11,500 fans twice in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich are not allowed any spectators until at least Oct. 25.
Other clubs have only had small numbers of fans back.
If we dont have fans back in the stadiums soon, I fear that football will suffer big damage, the former Bayern Munich and Germany forward said.
We are really speaking about less income in the region of 100 million euros (118 million dollars).
All over Europe, every club is losing between 50 and up to 200 million euros in a season it has to play without fans. It is easy to see how long a club can bear this.
Rummenigge also fears losing the football fan culture and said they are completely dependent on decisions from political and health authorities.
Looking at the worst case scenario with an abandoned season, Rummenigge fears that the Bundesliga will collapse.
Several Bundesliga clubs wont survive. Several, he said.
I cant imagine the Bundesliga to continue existing in its current form in the future.
Even under the current conditions, there are rumours that some clubs are in fear of insolvency, Rummenigge said. (dpa/NAN)
Source: NAN News