The Bundesliga reported a drop in revenue for last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic ©Getty Images

Germany's top football league, the Bundesliga, has released its financial report from the 2019-2020 season, showing a 5.7 per cent drop in revenue after the end of the season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report showed a total revenue of €4.5 billion (£4 billion/$5.5 billion), with most of the reduced income coming from match day revenue, with matches played either behind closed doors or in front of small crowds from March 2020.

Total ticket sales for the season were €363.5 million (£311.6 million/$434.7 million), down from €520 million (£446 million/$622 million) from the 2018-2019 season.

Most of this revenue will be lost for the ongoing 2020-2021 season.

"Overall, the 18 Bundesliga clubs generated a total revenue of €3.8 billion (£3.25 billion/$4.55 billion) during the 2019-2020 season, representing a drop of around 5.4 per cent," read the report.

"Bundesliga 2 clubs produced a total revenue of €726 million (£622 million/$868 million), roughly 7.2 per cent less than the previous year.

"Overall, combining these figures from both divisions yields a fall in revenue of 5.7 per cent."

Bundesliga revenue for last season was lower than the previous two seasons ©Bundesliga
Bundesliga revenue for last season was lower than the previous two seasons ©Bundesliga

Bundesliga's 36 clubs employ 52,786 people between them.

Last season's revenues was the third highest in the top division's history; while only one season has brought in more revenue than the Bundesliga 2 did last season.

Losses are expected to be even more significant for the 2020-2021 season.

"No one was prepared for the extent to which the coronavirus crisis would affect all areas of life, and football is no exception," said Christian Seifert, chief executive of theDeutsche Fußball Liga Executive Committee.

"The economic figures for the 2019-2020 season reflect the resulting loss of revenue - particularly from ticket sales for matches held behind closed doors - and the challenge of rapidly cutting costs that are often contractually agreed.

"And this is just the beginning.

"As this economic report goes to the press, we already know that the pandemic will continue to have a significant impact on society as a whole in 2021.

"In terms of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, the economic consequences include the ongoing absence of ticket sales as matches are still being played without fans in the stadium, as well as lower transfer expenses."

Bayern Munich won their eighth consecutive Bundesliga title last season, 13 points ahead of closest challengers Borussia Dortmund.