BBL boss Holz: “In fact, half the league has ghost games”

Berlin. According to BBL managing director Stefan Holz, nine out of 18 clubs in the basketball Bundesliga have to play without spectators due to the corona regulations in some federal states.

“In fact, half the league has ghost games,” said Holz of the “Sportschau”. In Saxony, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria this has either already been ordered or at least announced.

The federal government and state leaders agreed on Thursday, among other things, that due to the corona situation in sports halls, a maximum of 5,000 spectators were allowed. In regions with very high numbers of infections, the game should be played without an audience.

It is currently difficult because nobody knows when the fans will return, said Holz. Therefore, it is also out of the question to suspend the season. The BBL managing director further said: “The worst thing there is for an economic operation is unclear framework conditions.”

The corona measures hit the clubs harder than last season because at that time the lack of audience income had already been calculated, said the basketball official. In addition, there was “generous state aid”. “So it went well and all the clubs got through the season.”

HBL managing director Frank Bohmann criticized the ghost games in some federal states. “I doubt the proportionality a little,” he told the “Sportschau”. Arenas and stadiums were not the drivers of infection. He described the measures as “symbolism” and said: “We no longer have time for symbolic politics.”

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 211203-99-239926 / 2