It’s official. The Bundesliga will return to finish its 2019-20 season on May 16.

The Bundesliga became the first major European league to resume play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At an Extraordinary Assembly of the DFL held Thursday by video conference, the 36 clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 discussed the resumption of match operations.

After the DFL executive committee agreed in principle to continue the season from May 15, May 16 has been set as the restart date, it was announced by the DFL Thursday. In a press release, the DFL stated that it was folloing the wording of the federal and state decision, which says that the return of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 would be acceptable “from the second half of May.”

The season will continue from Matchday 26 for both leagues. The subsequent matchdays will follow in the order originally planned. The final game days of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 are scheduled for June 27-28, respectively. As the scheduling of the match days until the end of the season requires an adjustment to the overall schedule, final talks to coordinate this adjustment are being held with the DFB.

The second wave of coronavirus tests scheduled before the start of team training has been completed. It comprised 1,695 tests. Two cases of infection were identified and reported immediately to the local health authorities, which will decide on what steps to take.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.