Playing while positive
Croatian centre-half Domagoj Vida was discovered to have played an entire 45 minutes of football whilst being positive for coronavirus. Players are tested regularly for the virus but due to the timing of the test and the match’s scheduling results of the positive test were not delivered until the match had begun.
The Croatian football association released a statement detailing the incident.
“After all the players and staff members were negative for the regular test for the match with Turkey on Monday, the regular test for the match with Sweden was performed on Wednesday morning. The HNS received the official test results after midnight local time and showed that the national team player Domagoj Vida positive for new coronavirus.”
“The medical service of the Croatian national team received initial information at the end of the break between the two halves that there was one potentially positive result. This is a common test procedure, and a “suspicious” finding is retested to confirm the result.”
“As the selector Zlatko Dalić had already made a decision to change Vida at that time, the medical service of the national team isolated Vida according to all epidemiological measures until the test results were confirmed.”
Vida will now self isolate for the designated period whilst the rest of the squad and staff who tested negative will travel to Stockholm to face Sweden in the Nations League.
International questions
Whether international football should be going ahead in the current climate has been of some debate. Whilst players continue to be regularly tested, the prolonged period spent with other players outside of the typical club bubbles, is likely to increase the chance of any infection, if present, spreading.
Inter Milan’s CEO Giuseppe Marotta has gone as far as to say that a ‘boycott’ of international football should be taking place.
“This situation is unfair. There is a grey area in the lack of centrality of this way of management. In this way, each local health authority becomes central to the management of the clubs,” the Inter CEO said when speaking to Italian media outlet Gazetta dello Sport.
“I go further, if faced with a case that’s positive and this is the overall management of the situation, then I say let’s boycott the national teams.”
Alessandro Bastoni of Italy U21 during the UEFA UNDER21 Championship match between Italy and Poland at Renato Dall’Ara on June 19, 2019 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Yes, I mean it. This is where the credibility of the system is concerned. Football must go on, it suits everyone and then the government should give us a hand and set certain rules.”
“If we need a moment to stop, I propose that we all stop for 15 days, set clear and equal regulations for everyone, and then we start again. This is bad for all of Italian football.”
Italian football has faced challenges due to the virus already affecting fixtures. Juventus’ game against Napoli was unable to take place after the Naples-based club were unable to travel due to an outbreak in the region. Juventus were given a 3-0 victory as Napoli were forced to forfeit.
