MLS tournament loses another team
Nashville SC withdrew from Major League Soccer’s MLS is Back tournament after nine players tested positive for the coronavirus, the league announced Thursday.
Nashville is the second team to withdraw from the tournament at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World in Kissimmee, Florida. FC Dallas had to pull out after 10 players and a coach tested positive for COVID-19.
“Due to the number of positive tests, the club has been unable to train since arriving in Orlando and would not be able to play matches,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “For every decision we make in our return to play, the well-being of our players, staff, officials and all participants is our top priority.”
Nashville SC was playing in its first season in MLS. The team dropped its first two matches of the season before the league shut down on March 12.
Nashville arrived in Orlando for the tournament on July 3. One player tested positive upon arrival, and eight others tested positive over the next few days.
Nashville was originally scheduled to play the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, but that game was postponed. CEO Ian Ayre said Thursday players were devastated by not playing in this tournament, and now the team will work on getting everyone healthy to prepare for the rest of the season.
Ayre was incensed at suggestions that Nashville didn’t follow the league’s protocols during training and denied that players had a going-away party before traveling to Orlando.
The league revised its tournament schedule to reflect Nashville’s withdrawal. The 24 teams playing in the tournament are divided into six groups of four teams for the group stage.