Coronavirus: Man City, Arsenal clash postponed

Manchester City’s Premier League home match against Arsenal schedule for today has been postponed because players from the London club have had contact with the owner of Greek side Olympiakos, who has contracted the coronavirus.

A number of Arsenal players had met Evangelos Marinakis following their Europa League round-of-32 meeting in London on February 27.

Marinakis, who also owns Championship side Nottingham Forest, said on Tuesday he had contracted the coronavirus.

“Manchester City’s Premier League fixture at home to Arsenal has been postponed,” City said in a statement.

“The decision to postpone tonight’s game has been taken as a precautionary measure on medical advice, after it emerged that personnel from Arsenal FC have come into contact with the Olympiakos owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who has been named as a positive case of COVID-19.”

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Arsenal said the risk to their players was “extremely low” but they would follow medical guidelines.

“The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing COVID-19 at extremely low,” Arsenal said in a statement.

“However, we are strictly following government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact.

“The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires. Four Arsenal staff, who were sitting close to Mr Marinakis during the match will also remain at home until the 14 days are complete.”

The Premier League said it had no alternative but to postpone the game and complete a proper risk assessment.

It added that no other matches were in immediate danger of being postponed.

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“All necessary measures are being taken and the Premier League currently has no plans to postpone any other matches,” it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Wolves said on Tuesday that their request to European soccer’s governing body UEFA to postpone their Europa League last-16 first leg against Olympiakos had been rejected.