Bundesliga restart blow: Cologne trio test positive for COVID-19

FC Cologne have released a statement, confirming that a trio of unnamed individuals at the club have tested positive for COVID-19.

Football’s fight against coronavirus

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to wreak havoc on sporting events around the globe, football has been brought to a near standstill.

In Europe, Belarus remains the only country in which top-flight football continues to be played, with the Champions League and Europa League having also been postponed for the time being.

Despite the likes of Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie having come to the definitive decision to call a halt to proceedings until next season, though, elsewhere, clubs are gearing up for a return to competitive action.

Belgian Pro League 🇧🇪
Eredivisie 🇳🇱
Ligue 1 🇫🇷

All have had their seasons cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic ❌

Who next? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CfIRYOd397

— Goal (@goal) April 28, 2020

In Germany, top-flight outfits have been back in training for several weeks now, as the Bundesliga leads the way in European football’s fight against the coronavirus.

Cologne hit

As outlined above, however, the hopes of all associated with German football that a return to competitive action could be sanctioned over the coming weeks have, over the last 24 hours, been dealt a worrying blow.

An official statement on the part of Bundesliga outfit FC Cologne confirmed that three members of the club’s staff, who have remained unnamed, had tested positive for COVID-19:

‘FC Köln had the entire team and coaching staff, along with the backroom staff, tested on Thursday for COVID-19.’

‘Three people tested positive, all are symptom free.’

The individuals to have been diagnosed with the disease will now be forced into quarantine for 14 days:

‘After an assessment of the cases by the responsible health authorities, the three people who tested positive will go into a 14-day quarantine at home. FC Köln will not confirm any names out of respect for the privacy of those affected.’

Significantly, Cologne also announced that training sessions will continue to take place ‘as planned’, though the potential knock-on effect of the club’s findings on German football as a whole remains to be seen:

‘FC Köln’s training can continue as planned, according to the hygiene and infection control measures that have been in place since April 6th in group training.’

After testing positive for the #coronavirus, three people at #effzeh are now in quarantine. The group training can continue as planned. All infos 👇 https://t.co/gu4iqJrCNR

— 1. FC Cologne (@fckoeln_en) May 1, 2020

Best Netflix, Amazon & YouTube football documentaries & movies to watch during coronavirus isolation

9 best football documentaries to watch on ESPN+ during COVID-19 quarantine

from Football (soccer) greatest goals and highlights | 101 Great Goals - Feed https://ift.tt/2YpLWWl