Game halted after Stark’s positive test

AN Auld Enemy clash between the Scotland and England Under- 19 sides was dramatically abandoned yesterday when it emerged coach Billy Stark had tested positive for Covid-19.

The Scottish FA issued an apology to t heir English counterparts after the incident halted the match at St George’s Park.

With England leading 3-1 at the break, players were informed the encounter could not continue after the Scots took receipt of a second test for Stark (pictured) after a first test had come back negative.

Last night, the SFA confirmed that the Scotland Under-19 playing squad and backroom staff were now in quarantine.

The statement read: ‘The Scottish FA can clarify the situation that led to the abandonment of the game. The Under- 19s squad and backroom team all delivered negative Covid-19 tests on Sunday to enable them to play against England.

‘Three players based in England joined up with the squad (on Wednesday) — and they and the rest of the squad were tested again with a view to Sunday’s second match.

‘The three players had been in isolation and had no contact with anyone else.

‘Nonetheless, despite testing negative during Sunday’s test, the head coach, Billy Stark, returned a positive test for Covid-19 on Thursday afternoon.

‘The result of the second test was immediately relayed to the Under-19 team manager and the game was abandoned immediately, in line with established Covid-19 protocol.

‘Billy will now travel home in isolation and will self-isolate for 10 days.

‘The playing group and the rest of the backroom team will undertake precautionary selfisolation for 14 days, whilst the Scottish Government undertakes a formal risk assessment to assess who Stark was in close contact with during the camp.

‘ Scotland Under- 19s game against England on Sunday has now been postponed along with the scheduled U nd er-17s match at St George’s Park on Saturday.

‘We apologise to the FA for any inconvenience caused and reiterate our commitment to the health and safety of all our international players and staff.’

Meanwhile, Scottish Government health chief Jason Leitch insists Scotland stars Ryan Christie and Kieran Tierney have been treated no differently to the general public after both were ordered into quarantine. Celtic playmaker Christie and Arsenal left-back Tierney have been told they must self-isolate for 14 days after their Scotland team-mate Stuart Armstrong tested positive for Covid-19 while on international duty this week. Christie and Tierney both returned negative test results and have insisted they complied with social-distancing guidelines — yet they face missing games for club and country.

Celtic are also sweating on the availability of Odsonne Edouard for the Old Firm game on October 17 following the Frenchman’s positive t est earlier this week.

But Professor Leitch, the Scottish Government’s National Clinical Director, told Radio Clyde :‘ The local health protection team in the Lothians treats footballers the way it treats workers in call centres or you in your media job or me.

‘The health protection team in Lothian have decided who the contacts are and those contacts have been asked to self-isolate.

‘I cannot intervene or second guess what that process is. That’s exactly how the process should work and footballers are not treated any differently in that bit of the process than any other member of our society.’