24.06.2020 

LIQUI MOLY HBL & 2. HBL: 2020/21 season starts in the first week of October

Cologne, 24 June 2020 - In the first days of October 2020, handball will once again be played under competitive conditions in the LIQUI MOLY HBL and the 2. HBL. For the first time after the forced Corona out of the 2019/20 season, professional handball would again be used to play for championship points. This decision was made by the HBL Presidium in coordination with the professional clubs. The match schedules will be published in the end of July.

  • Season start planned for 1st October: Responsible into a new normality     
  • Hygiene concept: Making existential audience income possible     
  • Appointment density: Economical & sportive for all a very intense season

As there are no relegated but only promoted teams due to the season break, 20 clubs will be competing in LIQUI MOLY HBL instead of 18. As a result, the championship of the 55th season will be played in a total of 38 instead of the previous 34 Bundesliga matchdays. The end of the 2020/21 season is scheduled on June 30, 2021.  

HBL Managing Director Frank Bohmann: "After careful consideration, we have decided to stick to the classic season model. All other options would not be sufficiently practicable, economical and fair. In any case, we can expect a very complex season, which will demand a great deal of flexibility and solidarity from us due to the high density of appointments. I am convinced that everyone involved has internalized this." Due to the late start of the season, the Pixum Super Cup will not be on the schedule until the end of September. The current German Champion THW Kiel and runner-up SG Flensburg-Handewitt are qualified for the match for the first title of the season.

With this schedule, the HBL Executive Committee reacts to the still existing threat to health and life due to the Corona Pandemic, which still requires restrictions. In addition, the relocation will enable sufficient preparation for the competition, so that the risk of injury after such a long break can be prevented by setting up.   

HBL President Uwe Schwenker: "We will continue to do everything in our power to provide suitable conditions for the resumption of the match with spectators. After all, sport thrives on emotions - and these are only 100 per cent present on the pitch and in front of full ranks. By drawing up a detailed hygiene and operating concept, LIQUI MOLY HBL and the 2. HBL are preparing themselves in the best possible way for the start of the season at the beginning of October with the help of external expertise. The hygiene and operations concept will be completed and presented in the coming weeks. It will then serve the professional clubs as the basis for the respective coordination with the regional authorities.        

HBL Managing Director Frank Bohmann: "The Corona pandemic is still a very real threat, which we are countering with great solidarity and some success. That is precisely why handball attaches great importance to being able to start the season with a convincing hygiene concept with contact tracking. This would be an important and meanwhile urgently necessary step towards normality for our sport".

Handball-Bundesliga GmbH will continue to coordinate with the responsible institutions in the best possible way and provide transparent information to sponsors, media partners and fans.