Covid costs Bundesliga 1 billion euros over two seasons

BERLIN, Apr 01 (AFP): The new head of the Bundesliga on Friday revealed a drop in total revenue of more than one billion euros for the two seasons disrupted by the Covid pandemic.

According to figures released by the German Football League (DFL), revenue fell from 4.8 billion euros to 4.05 billion euros ($4.5 billion) for the 2020/21 season in Germany's top two leagues.

"Covid has already had a drastic economic impact on the Bundesliga in the past two years," said Donata Hopfen, the new CEO of the German league.

"In total, the downturn in revenue following the first two seasons impacted by the coronavirus, 2019-20 and 2020-21, was in excess of one billion euros."

Bundesliga revenue is down by more than 750 million euros - almost 16 percent - compared to the league's bumper record season of 2018-19.