Player reportedly tests positive for COVID-19
Inter Miami CF, which is set to kick off the MLS Cup playoffs against Nashville SC next week, reportedly had an unnamed player test positive for COVID-19.
Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner reported over theweekend that Inter Miami defender Alvas Powell was called up to play for the Jamaica national soccer team in its two friendlies in Saudi Arabia this week, but Powell won’t make the trip because “one of his teammates at his club, Inter Miami, tested positive for the virus and he is deemed to be compromised.”
Inter Miami didn’t comment on the report when reached via a club spokesperson.
All players, technical staff, and essential club staff are tested for COVID-19 every other day, including the day before each game. Powell played as a substitute during Inter Miami’s playoff-clinching victory versus FC Cincinnati on Sunday, meaning his test from Saturday came back negative.
A notable absence from Inter Miami’s match-day roster against Cincinnati was Brek Shea. The defender/midfielder was “not medically cleared” for Sunday’s game, which is the same language MLS clubs have used on injury reports for players who tested positive for COVID-19.
She a missed Inter Miami’ s previous two games due to an accident at home, but returned to practice with the team andwas expected to be available for the match versus against as of last Thursday, according to Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso.
Players are put into self-isolation if they test positive for COVID-19. Those who are identified through contact tracing as having close contact with the person who tested positive are quarantined.
It’s unknown if the player who tested positive for the coronavirus will be cleared from isolation in time for Inter Miami’s play-in match against Nashville SC on Nov. 20 at Nissan Stadium, or ifany other players were identified as close contacts due to contact tracing.
Inter Miami announced it had a player test positive for COVID-19 on June 18, with defender Christian Makoun announcing on Instagram in mid-July that he tested positive.
Inter Miami head athletic trainer Kei Utsumi said at the end of September in a club-issued video that the team hadn’t had anyone test positive for COVID-19 since it returned from the MLS is Back tournament in mid-July.
French midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who signed with Inter Miami in August, tested positive for COVID19 in March when hewas still with Italian soccer club Juventus.