Sat | May 11, 2024

Brighton player has COVID-19

Published:Monday | May 11, 2020 | 12:20 AM
The Amex Stadium, home to Brighton & Hove Albion, in Brighton, England.
The Amex Stadium, home to Brighton & Hove Albion, in Brighton, England.

(AP):

THE ENGLISH Premier League’s (EPL) challenge of resuming during the coronavirus pandemic was underscored yesterday when Brighton announced a player had tested positive just as clubs prepare for more talks on how they can create safe conditions to play again.

Brighton Chief Executive Paul Barber said the club’s COVID-19 case was “a concern,” with players still only training individually at the club. It reinforces how players could potentially spread the coronavirus if the government approves the reintroduction of group training and lifts the shutdown of sports that has been in place since March.

The 20 Premier League clubs are due to hold a conference call today after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the nation on Sunday night setting out the stages for lifting the lockdown. The government has said it wants to see the return of the EPL to “lift the spirits of the nation”.

Even though fans will not be allowed in stadiums, the league’s ‘Project Restart’ faces resistance from clubs who will not approve plans to use neutral venues. Watford claim to now be among at least six clubs insistent on being allowed to play at home – including Brighton – despite police saying that is not feasible.

Brighton have not named the player who was informed Saturday of his positive coronavirus test. There is no need for other members of the squad or coaches to self-isolate because players have only worked in isolation when at the training base, the south-coast club told The Associated Press.

Brighton said three players have now had the coronavirus, having announced the first diagnosis in March. Government social-distancing regulations prevent players training together.

“One of the things we’ve asked the Premier League for is a complete plan of all of the stages of returning to play,” Barber told broadcaster Sky Sports yesterday. “First, we need to get players back training in small groups, then they need to get involved in some contact training, and then training for a match before the match itself.

“So there are lots of stages, it’s very complex, and there are people at the Premier League working very hard to produce detailed paperwork to move through those stages as safely as possible.”

Brighton are only two points clear of the relegation zone with nine games remaining, so do not want to give away home advantage for five of those fixtures, which include leaders Liverpool and defending champions Manchester City due to visit the Amex Stadium.