Players quarantined as coronavirus forces EPL blockbuster to be called off
The Premier League has been hit with the coronavirus crisis as the match between Arsenal and Manchester City has been postponed.
Arsenal took on Olympiacos 13 days ago in the Europa League and since news broke the team’s owner contracted the coronavirus.
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Since numerous Arsenal players met the owner it was advised players remained in quarantine.
“Following yesterday’s news that Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis has recently contracted Covid-19, we have been taking medical advice and tracing any individuals who had what the guidelines define as close contact with him at the game 13 days ago,” an Arsenal statement read.
“The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing Covid-19 at extremely low. However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact.
”As a result, the players are unavailable for tonight's match against Manchester City and the Premier League has decided the game should be postponed.
“The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires. Four Arsenal staff, who were sitting close to Mr Marinakis during the match will also remain at home until the 14 days are complete.”
The coronavirus crisis has already hit Italian and Spanish football and the Champions League after games being postponed or played behind closed doors.
Italian football disaster mooted
The coronavirus crisis could be set to wreak even more chaos on Italy, according to the country’s football chiefs.
The Italian football federation (FIGC) admitted on Tuesday that the Serie A season might not finish because of the outbreak of the deadly virus.
The FIGC confirmed in a statement that Serie A would stop until at least April 3 following a government decree issued on Monday and said that its president Gabriele Gravina had put forward several alternatives in case the championship could not be concluded.
One possibility would be to have play-offs to decide the title and relegation to Serie B, the statement said.
A second would be to declare the current standings to be final - which would result in Juventus winning the title - and a third would be to not have a champion side this season.
