March 11 – Manchester City’s Premier League home match against Arsenal tonight has become the first English top-flight fixture to fall victim to the coronavirus.
The game was called off as a precaution at short notice because Arsenal players have been self-isolating after coming into contact with Evangelos Marinakis (pictured), owner of Greek side Olympiakos Piraeus, who has contracted Covid-19. They met Marinakis after the teams played each other in the Europa League on February 27.
“The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing COVID-19 at extremely low,” Arsenal said in a statement. “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.”
Arsenal did not say how many players were affected but it is likely that their next game, against Brighton on Saturday, will go ahead – more than two weeks after the Europa League tie.
The Premier League has yet to copy other leagues by postponing or playing games behind closed doors.
“All necessary measures are being taken and the Premier League currently has no plans to postpone any other matches,” the league said in a statement.
Marinakis, who is also owner of English Championship side Nottingham Forest, attended their game in London against Millwall on Friday. The club said he was diagnosed on Monday after first showing symptoms on his return to Greece.
Another Premier League club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, are due to play Olympiakos in the Europa League in an empty stadium in Athens on Thursday night. UEFA rejected a request from Wolves for the last-16 game to be called off completely, with the English club stressing the “good health of our pack and the general public” is more important than football.
“Our position is that the trip poses unnecessary risks to our players, staff, supporters and the families of all who travel, at such critical and uncertain times,” Wolves said. “Our concern is also for our opponents, whose players and staff have today been tested, and will now be expected to play their part in an important fixture, under the difficult and challenging circumstances of their owner suffering with the virus.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734843470labto1734843470ofdlr1734843470owedi1734843470sni@w1734843470ahsra1734843470w.wer1734843470dna1734843470