Germany's Top-tier League during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The German government's combat with the coronavirus was effective. During March-May Germany was amongst the countries in Europe with the lowest death rates. The advanced medical procedures and strict rules imposed by the government showed results. The German Bundesliga was the first league to return to its schedule after a long period of break.
In early May, the Bundesliga continued from where it left off. Other leagues in Europe, that were inspired by the strict regulations undertaken by the German soccer federation, also followed similar steps. The Bundesliga returned in May but the games were behind closed doors. Fans were initially not admitted to the stadiums. Some clubs displayed cardboard pictures of the fanatic fans that sent a picture of themselves to the club. If a player was subbed off in a game he had to wear a surgical mask before he could sit down on the team's bench. These extreme measures taken by the German league became a good example of sports around the world.
The 2019-2020 season of the Bundesliga ended on June 27, 2020. As it began earlier than other leagues in Europe, it also ended earlier. FC Bayern Munich became the champions of the troublesome season and Fortuna Dusseldorf, and Paderborn were amongst the teams that were relegated to the lower division. The 31-year-old Polish striker Robert Lewandowski was the top scorer of the season.
The German summer transfer window was also relatively quiet. The economic problems created by the pandemic prevented clubs from going on a spending spree. Therefore, teams did not purchase expensive players.
On September 18, 2020, the 2020-2021 season of the Bundesliga started. The season is currently undergoing cautiously. Fans are also permitted to attend games in small numbers. They are not however allowed to celebrate goals by hugging or getting too close. Fans must also wear masks during the entire game.