VIRUS: SON FORCED INTO QUARANTINE

Spurs striker ordered to self-isolate on return from Korea FIFA boss admits international games could be called off Players fear they will be forced to play in high-risk areas

TOTTENHAM star Son Heung-Min will be forced into isolation when he comes back from South Korea as the coronavirus outbreak continues to hit sport.

The striker went to his homeland for an operation on his broken arm and is due to return this weekend.

Spurs last night revealed he will now have to follow government advice and stay at home for

two weeks, as South Korea is in a high-risk zone for the virus.

Son wanted the same surgeon who operated on his right arm in 2017 and travelled before protocols were introduced on travel to and from South Korea.

But the quarantine period could undermine his efforts to get back to fitness this season, as he would normally go into Spurs’ Enfield training base for rehabilitation.

Boss Jose Mourinho said: “When Sonny’s back from Seoul we will have to follow the protocols and we’ll not have him immediately here. Where will he be? I don’t know how to be specific with that, I just know we have to follow some safety protocols.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has refused to rule out postponing internationals to help curb the spread of the virus. England are due to face Italy and Denmark at Wembley next month in warm-up games for Euro 2020 while Wales play Austria and USA.

Infantino, above, said: “I wouldn’t exclude anything at this moment. I hope we will never have to get into this direction. I think it will be difficult in any case to make a global ban because the situation is really different. If games have to be postponed or played without spectators until it is over, then we have to go through that.”

Global football players’ union FIFPro released a statement which read: “We are concerned for the safety of players who may be exposed to the coronavirus and the danger of football acting as a vehicle to spread disease.

“Players have contacted our member unions asking for assistance out of fear they could be made to perform in high-risk environments. We are calling on all football stakeholders to act responsibly.”