Germany's Bundesliga will be the first major football league in Europe to return to action next week after being suspended in March as the coronavirus spread across the continent.

The pandemic has claimed almost 150,000 lives in Europe but some countries are cautiously beginning to ease stay-at-home orders.

AFP Sport looks at the state of play in Europe's top leagues:

<h2>GERMANY</h2>

The German league on Wednesday announced that the Bundesliga will restart on May 15.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders earlier gave the Bundesliga the green light to restart behind closed doors under a plan that includes regular testing of players.

Permission was granted on condition that strict guidelines are followed -- with a hygiene officer appointed to each team -- to prevent contagion of the virus.

So far, clubs in the top two divisions have returned 10 positive results for coronavirus from 1,724 tests since training resumed. Three of the cases were from Cologne and two from Borussia Moenchengladbach.

<h2>ENGLAND</h2>

Premier League clubs reaffirmed their commitment last week to finish the season subject to restrictions being lifted in Britain, although players including Manchester City's Sergio Aguero have expressed reservations about the plan.

The English top flight faces an estimated loss of around £1 billion ($1.25 billion) if the season cannot be completed. Plans to stage the 92 remaining games behind closed doors, reportedly at up to 10 neutral venues, would mitigate the financial damage.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to outline details of how Britain will exit lockdown on Sunday before the next Premier League meeting to discuss the restart plan takes place a day later.

Premier League chiefs have targeted a return to action in June and several clubs have reopened their training grounds for players to use on an individual basis.

A large supply of privately sourced tests would be needed for players, coaches and backroom staff.

However, relegation-threatened clubs are reported to be against the neutral venue plan, with some said to be willing to vote against the Premier League's "Project Restart".

<h2>SPAIN</h2>

La Liga players have started returning to their clubs to undergo coronavirus tests as teams plan to return to restricted training ahead of the proposed resumption of the season next month.

The first of a four-phase de-escalation programme announced by the Spanish government last week will allow players to initially train alone, with a maximum of six players permitted on the pitch.

La Liga's programme will then permit training in small groups before a return to larger team sessions.

In the fourth and final phase, in early June, the government has said outside events can go ahead when attended by fewer than 400 people.&nbsp;

La Liga is proposing to complete its season behind closed doors, with games re-starting in mid-June.&nbsp;

League president Javier Tebas has said "it is not an option" to cancel the season given the economic fallout, estimating it would cost clubs around a billion euros.

<h2>ITALY</h2>

Players at a number of Italian clubs, including defending champions Juventus, are back training individually after receiving the green light from the country's interior ministry.

Despite players being allowed to return to club facilities two weeks ahead of schedule and undergoing health checks, sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora warned training in groups must wait until May 18.

Cristiano Ronaldo will have to observe a 14-day quarantine period after returning to Italy following two months of confinement in Portugal.

It remains uncertain whether matches can restart, with Spadafora saying "it is impossible to set a certain date".&nbsp;

Officially, all 20 Serie A teams have unanimously backed a return to competition, despite reservations from clubs such as Brescia and Torino, in the north of Italy, which was particularly hard-hit by the pandemic.

A meeting is scheduled Thursday between the Italian Football Federation and members of the government's Technical Scientific Committee to discuss the medical protocol for the resumption of group training.

<h2>FRANCE</h2>

Paris Saint-Germain were named Ligue 1 champions after France's football league declared the coronavirus-hit season over on April 30.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said that "professional sports leagues, notably football, cannot restart" because of the pandemic.

"There is no ambiguity about this declaration. We needed to make a final decision about this season. We acknowledge that the 2019-20 season is over," said LFP president Nathalie Boy de la Tour.

The LFP arranged a final table on the basis of average points per game. Ten rounds of matches remained when the campaign was halted.

Toulouse and Amiens, the bottom two, were condemned to relegation, with Lorient, as champions, and Lens coming up from Ligue 2. The usual promotion and relegation play-offs, meanwhile, have been ditched.

Germany's Bundesliga will be the first major football league in Europe to return to action next week after being suspended in March as the coronavirus spread across the continent.

Germany's Bundesliga will be the first major football league in Europe to return to action next week after being suspended in March as the coronavirus spread across the continent. The pandemic has claimed almost 150,000 lives in Europe but some countries are cautiously beginning to ease stay-at-home orders. AFP Sport looks at the state of play in Europe's top leagues: GERMANY The German league on Wednesday announced that the Bundesliga will restart on May 15. Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders earlier gave the Bundesliga the green light to restart behind closed doors under a plan that includes regular testing of players. Permission was granted on condition that strict guidelines are followed -- with a hygiene officer appointed to each team -- to prevent contagion of the virus. So far, clubs in the top two divisions have returned 10 positive results for coronavirus from 1,724 tests since training resumed. Three of the cases were from Cologne and two from Borussia Moenchengladbach. ENGLAND Premier League clubs reaffirmed their commitment last week to finish the season subject to restrictions being lifted in Britain, although players including Manchester City's Sergio Aguero have expressed reservations about the plan. The English top flight faces an estimated loss of around £1 billion ($1.25 billion) if the season cannot be completed. Plans to stage the 92 remaining games behind closed doors, reportedly at up to 10 neutral venues, would mitigate the financial damage. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to outline details of how Britain will exit lockdown on Sunday before the next Premier League meeting to discuss the restart plan takes place a day later. Premier League chiefs have targeted a return to action in June and several clubs have reopened their training grounds for players to use on an individual basis. A large supply of privately sourced tests would be needed for players, coaches and backroom staff. However, relegation-threatened clubs are reported to be against the neutral venue plan, with some said to be willing to vote against the Premier League's "Project Restart". SPAIN La Liga players have started returning to their clubs to undergo coronavirus tests as teams plan to return to restricted training ahead of the proposed resumption of the season next month. The first of a four-phase de-escalation programme announced by the Spanish government last week will allow players to initially train alone, with a maximum of six players permitted on the pitch. La Liga's programme will then permit training in small groups before a return to larger team sessions. In the fourth and final phase, in early June, the government has said outside events can go ahead when attended by fewer than 400 people. La Liga is proposing to complete its season behind closed doors, with games re-starting in mid-June. League president Javier Tebas has said "it is not an option" to cancel the season given the economic fallout, estimating it would cost clubs around a billion euros. ITALY Players at a number of Italian clubs, including defending champions Juventus, are back training individually after receiving the green light from the country's interior ministry. Despite players being allowed to return to club facilities two weeks ahead of schedule and undergoing health checks, sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora warned training in groups must wait until May 18. Cristiano Ronaldo will have to observe a 14-day quarantine period after returning to Italy following two months of confinement in Portugal. It remains uncertain whether matches can restart, with Spadafora saying "it is impossible to set a certain date". Officially, all 20 Serie A teams have unanimously backed a return to competition, despite reservations from clubs such as Brescia and Torino, in the north of Italy, which was particularly hard-hit by the pandemic. A meeting is scheduled Thursday between the Italian Football Federation and members of the government's Technical Scientific Committee to discuss the medical protocol for the resumption of group training. FRANCE Paris Saint-Germain were named Ligue 1 champions after France's football league declared the coronavirus-hit season over on April 30. The announcement came after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said that "professional sports leagues, notably football, cannot restart" because of the pandemic. "There is no ambiguity about this declaration. We needed to make a final decision about this season. We acknowledge that the 2019-20 season is over," said LFP president Nathalie Boy de la Tour. The LFP arranged a final table on the basis of average points per game. Ten rounds of matches remained when the campaign was halted. Toulouse and Amiens, the bottom two, were condemned to relegation, with Lorient, as champions, and Lens coming up from Ligue 2. The usual promotion and relegation play-offs, meanwhile, have been ditched.

League-by-league guide to European football's coronavirus shutdown

FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the global coronavirus crisis could bring about a reform of football which he does not expect to return to action by May.

"Without panic, let's face it, we will play when we can without endangering anyone's health," the head of world football said.

"Health first. Then everything else. And the rest, for managers, means hoping for the best but also preparing for the worst."

World football has been thrown into turmoil by the pandemic which has killed 15,000 and confined more than a billion people ot their homes.

The Euro 2020 and Copa America tournaments have already been pushed back while uncertainty remains over the inaugural 24-team Club World Cup from 2021.

"We need an assessment of the global economic impact," the 50-year-old Swiss told Monday's edition of Gazzetta Dello Sport.&nbsp;

"We don't know when things will return to normal.&nbsp;

"But let's look at the opportunities. We can perhaps reform world football by taking a step back. With different formats. Fewer tournaments, maybe fewer teams, but more balanced.&nbsp;

"Fewer games to protect the health of the players.

"It's not science fiction, let's talk about it. Let's quantify the damage, see how to cover it, make sacrifices and let's start again.&nbsp;

"Not from scratch. But let's all save football together from a crisis that risks being irreversible."

Infantino revealed he was working on temporary derogations on footballers' contracts to avoid the June 30 deadline.

"Now let's think about the national team calendar, and about temporary changes and dispensations for the regulations on the status of players and transfers.&nbsp;

"To protect contracts and adapt registration periods. Tough measures are needed tough. But there is no choice. We will all have to make sacrifices."

Infantino, meanwhile, dismissed talk of a planned European Super League for the top clubs.

"It makes me laugh," he said. "And what else? From what I see, others are already planning and organising tournaments around the world, outside the institutional structures, and without respect for how domestic, continental and world football are organised.

"In the future we must have at least 50 national teams that can win the World Cup, not just eight European and two South American ones.&nbsp;

"And 50 clubs that can win the Club World Cup, not just five or six European ones. And twenty of these 50 will be Europeans, which seems to me better than today's five or six. But this is not the time to talk about it now.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the global coronavirus crisis could bring about a reform of football which he does not expect to return to action by May.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino believes the global coronavirus crisis could bring about a reform of football which he does not expect to return to action by May. "Without panic, let's face it, we will play when we can without endangering anyone's health," the head of world football said. "Health first. Then everything else. And the rest, for managers, means hoping for the best but also preparing for the worst." World football has been thrown into turmoil by the pandemic which has killed 15,000 and confined more than a billion people ot their homes. The Euro 2020 and Copa America tournaments have already been pushed back while uncertainty remains over the inaugural 24-team Club World Cup from 2021. "We need an assessment of the global economic impact," the 50-year-old Swiss told Monday's edition of Gazzetta Dello Sport. "We don't know when things will return to normal. "But let's look at the opportunities. We can perhaps reform world football by taking a step back. With different formats. Fewer tournaments, maybe fewer teams, but more balanced. "Fewer games to protect the health of the players. "It's not science fiction, let's talk about it. Let's quantify the damage, see how to cover it, make sacrifices and let's start again. "Not from scratch. But let's all save football together from a crisis that risks being irreversible." Infantino revealed he was working on temporary derogations on footballers' contracts to avoid the June 30 deadline. "Now let's think about the national team calendar, and about temporary changes and dispensations for the regulations on the status of players and transfers. "To protect contracts and adapt registration periods. Tough measures are needed tough. But there is no choice. We will all have to make sacrifices." Infantino, meanwhile, dismissed talk of a planned European Super League for the top clubs. "It makes me laugh," he said. "And what else? From what I see, others are already planning and organising tournaments around the world, outside the institutional structures, and without respect for how domestic, continental and world football are organised. "In the future we must have at least 50 national teams that can win the World Cup, not just eight European and two South American ones. "And 50 clubs that can win the Club World Cup, not just five or six European ones. And twenty of these 50 will be Europeans, which seems to me better than today's five or six. But this is not the time to talk about it now.

FIFA boss looking at soccer reform after coronavirus crisis

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League-by-league guide to European football's coronavirus shutdown

FIFA boss looking at soccer reform after coronavirus crisis