Coronavirus testing causes havoc in English football
Coronavirus dominated the English League Cup schedule yesterday as West Ham played despite their coach and two players having tested positive, while Tottenham’s game was called off.
West Ham said manager David Moyes and players Issa Diop and Josh Cullen only found out their test results after they had arrived at the London Stadium to play Hull. Diop and Cullen had been named in the starting lineup.
“The manager and both players immediately left the stadium and have returned home,” Westhamsaid. “All three, who are asymptomatic, will now follow Public Health England and Premier League guidelines and protocols.”
Assistant coach Alan Irvine took charge of West Ham in Moyes’ absence. West Ham won the game 5-1 as Robert Snodgrass scored the opening goal before Se´bastien Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko scored two each.
West Ham did not say when their players and coaches gave their samples to be tested or how much contact Moyes and the two players had with the rest of the team since then. West Ham’s last game was a 2-1 loss to Arsenal on Sunday.
The Premier League coronavirus protocols state Moyes, Diop and Cullen will have to isolate for 10 days. That would mean they miss the Premier League game against Wolverhampton on Monday.
Earlier, the match between Tottenham and Leyton Orient was called off two hours before kickoff because Orient players contracted the coronavirus.
“Discussions are ongoing between the relevant stakeholders in regards to the implications of the fixture not taking place,”
League said.
Orient, a London-based team in the fourth division, may have to forfeit the game if the club is deemed to be unable to fulfil the fixture.
Manchester United got their first win of the season by beating seconddivision Luton 2-0, but it was a far from dominant showing.
Juan Mata gave United the lead from the penalty spot after Brandon Williams was tripped in the 44th minute. However, United struggled to break down Luton’s otherwise disciplined defence and only a good save from goalkeeper Dean Henderson in his first competitive game for United stopped Luton leveling the score with a header in the 81st.
Marcus Rashford made sure of the win with a goal on the counterattack seven minutes later and Mason Greenwood scored another in added time. — AP
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