London: Brighton chief executive Paul Barber on Sunday revealed a third player at the Premier League club has tested positive for the coronavirus, raising fresh concerns about the attempt to finish the English top-flight season.
The unnamed player was tested on Saturday and will self-isolate for 14 days while he recovers from the virus. The rest of Brighton’s squad will continue to train at home and in solo sessions at the team’s training ground. Two other Brighton players, who were not named, contracted the virus several weeks ago and have reportedly recovered. “Unfortunately we have had a third player test positive just yesterday,” Barber told Sky Sports News. “Despite all the measures we have all been taking over the last few weeks, when the players haven’t been involved in taking any significant training at all, we have still suffered another player testing positive for the virus. “There are concerns and I think it is normal for all clubs to have those concerns. “We want to make sure we do all that we can so the protocols that are put into place are safe and secure and mitigate the risk.” In Germany, Bundesliga 2 side Dynamo Dresden have put their entire squad and coaching staff into two-week isolation after two players tested positive for coronavirus. The Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 are due to restart on May 16. Brighton’s latest positive test comes ahead of Monday’s Premier League meeting, where clubs are expected to debate the plan to complete the season behind closed doors at neutral venues and vote on whether player contracts will be extended until the end of the rescheduled campaign.
The Premier League would like to restart the season in June and play the remaining 92 fixtures by August. Barber has been critical of the neutral venue idea, insisting that the campaign should still be played on a home-and-away basis as Brighton battle to avoid relegation.
Norwich, Watford and Aston Villa were in the relegation zone when the Premier League was suspended because of the health crisis on March 13. (AFP)
