Premier League suffers setback as six test positive for COVID-19
The possible restart of the Premier League season in June suffered another setback on Tuesday as six associates from three different clubs tested positive for COVID-19. This was the first phase of mass testing by the Premier League and while they haven’t announced if they were players or club officials the number is still a setback as they tried to follow in the footsteps of the German Bundesliga which restarted over the weekend.
Sky News reported that the six confirmed cases came from two days of testing on Sunday and Monday with the identities undisclosed for data protection reasons. According to reports nineteen of the twenty clubs were tested with the final club being tested on Tuesday. It follows on the back of a third Brighton and Hove Albion player testing positive on May 10th along with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta who was the first Premier League associate to test positive in March.
A statement released by the Premier League read:
“The Premier League can today confirm that on Sunday, May 17 and Monday, May 18, 748 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, six have tested positive from three clubs. Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.”
The Bundesliga returned over the weekend to much fanfare and as of Tuesday morning things seemed to have gone off without a hitch although three players from Bundesliga 2 side Dynamo Dresden did test positive last week which meant their game against Hannover was postponed.
The penciled in date for the return of Premier League action is June 12th with clubs allowed small gatherings of players to train beginning this week, however, a number of players have raised concerns with Danny Rose responding to the governments call to resume the season to help boost morale by going on Instagram live and saying:
“I don’t give a fuck about the nation’s morale. People’s lives are at risk. Football shouldn’t even be spoken about coming back until the numbers have dropped massively.”
While Watford striker Troy Deeney will not be returning to training and told Talk the Talk podcast:
“My son is five months and he’s had breathing difficulties. I don’t want to come home and put him in more danger. You’ve got to drive in in your own kit, you can’t have showers, then drive back in the same dirty kit you’ve got. If I’m putting my clothing in with my son’s or my missus’ it’s more likely to be in the house.”
