No fans, no hugging, no spitting! Bundesliga resume season with empty stadiums

Dortmund's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, May 16, 2020.

The Bundesliga kicked off play in empty stadiums under strict safety measures on Saturday, with five matches on the schedule, after a two-month suspension caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The last Bundesliga game was played on March 11 as the virus was beginning to take hold in Germany. 

At the stadiums, strict health checks and hygiene measures were enforced.

Precautions began before the game with no children accompanying players onto the field, no contact between rivals in the tunnel and no handshakes with the referee or match officials.

Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Moenchengladbach - Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany - May 16, 2020 A member of Frankfurt's coaching staff wears a face mask, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Michael Probst/Pool via REUTERS

During the matches, substitutes wore masks and sat on a newly formed substitute bench that adhered to social distancing rules.

Players also kept their emotions in check during goal celebration.

The Bundesliga allowed five substitutions in total per game to help players cope due to the lack of match practice and the congested fixture schedule, with Schalke becoming the first team in Bundesliga history to make use of the temporary measure.

Inside the stadiums masks were mandatory for everyone apart from the players.

However, coaches were permitted to remove their masks to shout instructions at their players – as long as they stay at least 1.5 metres (yards) away.

To compensate for the lack of atmosphere, match broadcasters offered viewers a new audio option with pre-recorded fan chants, singing and reactions based on the games. 

May 16, 2020 A matchball is disinfected after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Jan Woitas/Pool via REUTERS

Sunday and Monday's matches will also begin under similar conditions on Saturday.

Germany itself has had more than 175,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but has been able to get a better handle on the virus in recent weeks.