Socially-distanced buses and elbow bumps: German football's new world

Players arriving in several sparsely-populated team buses, substitutes wearing masks and goal celebrations limited to elbow bumps -- when German football returns to pitch this weekend, it will have to follow a draconian set of guidelines. German Football League (DFL) presented political leaders with a 51-p document of guidelines to earn right for Bundesliga to become first of Europe's big five leagues to resume action. matches will be surrounded by extraordinary measures to protect players and officials from infection by coronavirus. And weighty text underlines that "all of measures are conditional on fact that y do t divert indispensable resources from fight against COVID-19 for rest of population".

Testing and quarantine

central pillar of DFL's plan is mass testing of players, coaches and backroom staff. y are tested at least twice a week and once on eve of matches. Any that test positive for virus are separated from rest of team. decision to quarantine teams rests with authorities in each of Germany's federal states, which explains why entire team of second-division Dynamo Dresden was placed in quarantine after two players were found to have coronavirus but Borussia Moenchengladbach, in a different state, continued to train after cases were found among ir squad.

Empty stadiums

Only around 300 people will be allowed into stadium on matchdays. y are divided into three zones to avoid any contact between each group. Only players, match officials, first aid personnel and a small group of photographers are allowed on pitch. In orwise empty stands re will be just a handful of reporters and TV camera operators. Outside stadium itself is third category of personnel including security guards. It is police's job to prevent supporters garing outside stadiums.

Team arrivals

teams will arrive in several coaches to ensure each occupant is sitting 1.5 metres (five feet) apart. Everyone in vehicles must wear masks. social distancing rules must also be respected in changing rooms. When players come onto pitch, handshakes are banned, re will be team photos or handshakes and team pennants will be exchanged.

On pitch

Players and match officials do t need to wear masks, but everyone else on pitchside does, including substitutes on bench. match balls will be disinfected regularly during action. Players have been told that physical contact should only be made as a result of play during match and embracing or high-fives to celebrate goals is to be strictly avoided. "Contact with elbows or feet is preferred," document states. DFL urges players to show "exemplary behaviour".

Media cover

Eight ps of health document detail measures that TV teams must take to avoid contact, including erecting plastic screens between interviewer and interviewee. Just 10 journalists will be admitted to each match. re will be press conferences and mixed zone where reporters can rmally ask players questions, will be closed.

Holed up in hotels

Wherever possible, visiting teams must book an entire hotel or, at very least, an entire floor. hotel has to be disinfected before players arrive. Players are banned from hotel's weights room and must respect required distance from ir teammates even at mealtimes.

Private lives

At home, players must live in near-quarantine conditions, without seeing ir neighbours or friends. same rules apply to all of a player's family members. players are t even permitted to do family's shopping.