Manchester United are the latest club to suffer from a COVID19 outbreak, which has resulted in the club’s postponement of Tuesday’s match against Brentford.
Several players and staff who returned tested positive for lateral flow on Sunday morning and have been sent home for training. The club canceled all first-team training sessions prior to negotiations with the Premier League, leading to the match being postponed.
There are now concerns the outbreak could spread further, with the club shutting down first-team activities at Carrington base and deciding not to travel to London before scheduled fixtures.
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A club statement on Monday night read: “Manchester United can confirm that our Premier League fixture at Brentford FC, on Tuesday 14 December at 19:30, has been postponed and will be rescheduled in due course.
“Following PCR confirmation of positive LFT Covid-19 tests among staff and players of the first team, the outbreak needs constant monitoring. A decision has been taken to close the operations of the first team. first team at Carrington Training Complex for 24 hours to help reduce the risk of further contagion, and individuals who have tested positive are in isolation in line with Premier League protocol.
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“With training sessions canceled and squads disrupted, and prioritizing the health of players and staff, the Club has requested that the match be rescheduled. Premier League leadership has decided to postpone it. based on the instructions of medical advisors.
“Manchester United regrets the inconvenience caused to Brentford FC and fans of both clubs by Covid-19.”
Additionally, the Premier League has posted its own statement.
The Premier League wrote: “The decision was made on the guidance of medical advisors due to the exceptional circumstances of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in the Manchester United squad.” “First team operations at the club’s Carrington Training Complex were closed today to help control the outbreak and minimize the risk of further infection to players and staff.
“The federation wishes those players and staff a speedy recovery from COVID-19. The postponed fixture will be rescheduled in due course.
“With the health of players and staff a priority, and due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Premier League has introduced Emergency Measures. These include protocols such as control Check in more often, wear a face covering when indoors, observe social distancing, and limit treatment time.”
What do we know?
Goal understands that the entire group traveling to Norwich on Saturday tested negative in the latest round of routine testing.
However, a new round of side stream checks on Sunday morning returned a small number of positive tests between players and staff.
Those who tested positive were then sent home, with the Premier League notified of the situation.
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Those who remained trained outdoors with training schedules tailored to individual and non-contact sessions.
In July, the club faced a COVID scare when nine players and staff recorded positive lateral flow tests, forcing the cancellation of a pre-season friendly against Preston North End.
As a result, the PCR test was negative and the initial result was said to be a false positive.
Concerns about COVID
News of this latest outbreak comes after Tottenham’s Europa Conference League match against Rennes on Thursday was called off after 13 Spurs players and staff tested positive for the virus.
Sunday’s Premier League game against Brighton was also called out as a precaution.
