Watzke´s warning: Lights out threat for clubs if Bundesliga grinds to a halt

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has warned “lights could go out” for a number of clubs in Germany if the Bundesliga season is halted. 

The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on football has been such that clubs face losses due to the absence of significant revenue streams, such as gate receipts. 

Dortmund recorded a €43.9million loss for the 2019-20 financial year, pinning the cause for that outcome on the coronavirus outbreak. 

Since posting those results in August, the new season has begun in Germany, with small numbers of supporters allowed back into stadiums. 

Should the league have to be paused again, however, as it was from March until May this year, then Watzke fears the impact could see some clubs in danger of collapse. 

He told German newspaper Bild: “I think that we can manage this season – at least most of the clubs, if there are no more interruptions.” 

Watzke insists clubs cannot operate at their current level for much longer. 

“It is clear that this can’t carry on forever economically,” he said. 

“Should there be another major interruption, then some of the lights could go out.” 

Dortmund faced a trip to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with around 6,000 spectators expected to be in the stadium.