German football president proposes salary caps to bring game 'closer to the people again'

Fritz Keller said the coronavirus pandemic offered a chance to implement reforms for the future

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  Sandhausen players take off their protective face masks while entering the pitch prior to the German Bundesliga second division soccer match between Erzgebirge Aue and Sandhausen in Aue. Getty

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  The official Derbystar match ball of the Bundesliga prior to the German Bundesliga second division soccer match between FC Erzgebirge Aue and SV Sandhausen in Aue, Germany. EPA

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  Jordi Osei Tutu (L) of Bochum celebrates after scoring during the German Bundesliga Second Division soccer match between VfL Bochum 1848 and 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 at Vonovia Ruhrstadion in Bochum, Germany. EPA

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  Media arriving at the stadium have their temperature checked before the Second Bundesliga match between SSV Jahn Regensburg and Holstein Kiel at Continental Arena in Regensburg, Germany. Getty

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  Dennis Diekmeier and Ivan Paurevic of SV Sandhausen wear medical face masks prior to the Second Bundesliga match between FC Erzgebirge Aue and SV Sandhausen at Erzgebirgsstadion on May 16, 2020 in Aue, Germany. Getty

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  Referee Martin Petersen (C) speaks to Marco Gruettner (L) of Jahn Regensburg and Hauke Wahl of Holstein Kiel before the German Bundesliga Second Division soccer match between SSV Jahn Regensburg and Holstein Kiel at Continental Arena in Regensburg, Germany. EPA

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  Head coaches Christian Eichner (L) of Karlsruhe and Dimitrios Grammozis of Darmstadt do an elbow bump prior to the Second Bundesliga match between Karlsruher SC and SV Darmstadt 98 at Wildparkstadion in Karlsruhe, Germany.he end of the season will be played behind closed doors. Getty

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  Anthony Losilla #8 of Bochum celebrate with his teammates after he scores the opening goal during the Second Bundesliga match between Bochum 1848 and Heidenheim 1846 at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on May 16, 2020 in Bochum, Germany. Getty

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  Lee Jae-Song (L) of Holstein Kiel celebrates after scoring during the German Bundesliga Second Division soccer match between SSV Jahn Regensburg and Holstein Kiel at Continental Arena in Regensburg, Germany. EPA

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  Aue's Dimitrij Nazarov scores the opening goal from the penalty spot during the German Bundesliga second division soccer match between FC Erzgebirge Aue and SV Sandhausen in Aue, Germany. EPA

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  Anthony Losilla (L) of Bochum scores the opening goal during the German Bundesliga Second Division match between Bochum 1848 and Heidenheim at Vonovia Ruhrstadion in Bochum, Germany. EPA

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  Pascal Testroet of Erzgebirge wears a disposable face mask on the substitutes' bench during the Bundesliga 2 match between Erzgebirge Aue and Sandhausen at Erzgebirgsstadion on May 16, 2020 in Aue, Germany. Getty

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  The Karlsruhe bench with players and team members keeping the required distance during the German Bundesliga second division soccer match between Karlsruher and Darmstadt 98 at Wildparkstadion in Karlsruhe, Germany. EPA

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  Bundesliga - Borussia Dortmund v Schalke 04 - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany. Stewards wearing protective face masks stand in front of turnstiles outside the stadium before the match. Reuters

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  Head coach Christian Eichner of Karlsruhe stands at the sideline during the German Bundesliga second division soccer match between Karlsruher SC and SV Darmstadt 98 at Wildparkstadion in Karlsruhe, Germany. EPA

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  A general view outside the PreZero Arena prior to the Bundesliga match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Hertha BSC in Sinsheim, Germany. Getty

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  A TV camera man is seen during the German Bundesliga Second Division soccer match between VfL Bochum 1848 and 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 at Vonovia Ruhrstadion in Bochum, Germany. EPA

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  A member of staff from FC Erzgebirge Aue hands out disposable protective face masks during the Second Bundesliga match between FC Erzgebirge Aue and SV Sandhausen at Erzgebirgsstadion In Aue, Germany. Getty

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  Journalists work in the media stand during the Second Bundesliga match between Karlsruher SC and SV Darmstadt 98 at Wildparkstadion in Karlsruhe, Germany. Getty

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  Jan Hochscheidt of FC Erzgebirge Aue (R) is challenged Leart Paqarada of SV Sandhausen (L) during the Second Bundesliga match between FC Erzgebirge Aue and SV Sandhausen at Erzgebirgsstadion in Aue, Germany. Getty

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  Salih Oezcan of Holstein Kiel takes a corner during the Second Bundesliga match between SSV Jahn Regensburg and Holstein Kiel at Continental Arena in Regensburg, Germany. Getty

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  A steward looks on from the stands during the Second Bundesliga match between FC Erzgebirge Aue and SV Sandhausen at Erzgebirgsstadion on May 16, 2020 in Aue, Germany. Getty

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  Thomas Reis, head coach of Bochum gives instructions during the Second Bundesliga match between Bochum 1848 and Heidenheim at Vonovia Ruhrstadion in Bochum, Germany. Getty

German football president Fritz Keller has proposed salary caps to alleviate the financial burden on clubs and bring the game "closer to the people again".

The Bundesliga on Saturday became the first major European football league to resume after a continent-wide stoppage due to the coronavirus, thanks to thorough testing of players and staff.

Keller proposed introducing salary caps to help make the sport more sustainable, saying the coronavirus pandemic offered a chance to implement reforms for the future.

"We must bring professional football closer to the people again," he told the German Football Federation (DFB) website. "We have to think about a salary cap."

"Commissions for player advisors and huge transfer sums are increasingly irritating society and alienate it from our beloved sport," he added.

Keller said the Covid-19 crisis offered German football the chance for some much-needed introspection and that football's coronavirus testing capacity could help society in general.

"I see football as having a responsibility to contribute ... Preventive and large-scale testing could help to contain the virus until a vaccine is developed," he said.

"Should politics and science decide in favour of preventive testing, football will make its contribution to the success of this measure: with its unifying power, popularity, logistics and infrastructure."