English professional football has been suspended from today for at least three weeks until at least April 3 due to the coronavirus pandemic after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for the infection.
The Premier League, the Championship, League One, League Two, FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship have all halted competitive action immediately – along with the FA Cup quarter-finals.
England’s two friendlies on March 27 and 31 at Wembley have also been postponed – while next week’s Champions League and Europa League ties were called off and the European Championships in June are now under threat.
Government advice on mass gatherings in England has not changed despite the decision to move into the ‘delay’ phase in tackling the virus, but the spread of the illness among competitors has forced the hand of organisers.
It follows players and staff being affected by the virus, or individuals self-isolating as a precaution after reporting the symptoms of Covid-19. Three Leicester players are being tested and Everton’s squad are now in self-isolation.
In other sports, England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka has been cut short, although the Six Nations match between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday is still due to go ahead as things stand.
The Premier League is suspended until April 4, with the Football League off until April 3 – when Blackburn Rovers play Leeds United in the Championship, which is currently the next scheduled professional match in England.
Non-league fixtures are still scheduled to go ahead, but National League officials will meet today to discuss this.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to his side at the end of the first half of extra time of the Olympiakos game on February 27. It is not thought the manager contracted the virus from the Greek side’s owner, who has also tested positive
Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus, his club Chelsea said. The club’s Cobham training ground will also be partially closed. He is pictured playing against Newcastle United on January 12 (left) and Bournemouth last December (right)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at a news conference at 10 Downing Street in London yesterday about coronavirus
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: ‘Above all, we wish Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi speedy recoveries, and everyone else affected by COVID-19.
‘In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, Government, the FA and EFL and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority.’
The Premier League said it aims to reschedule the displaced fixtures ‘when it is safe to do so’, adding: ‘In this fast-moving environment, further updates will be provided when appropriate.’
An EFL spokesman said: “The FA, Premier League, EFL and Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship have collectively agreed to postpone the professional game in England until April 3 at the earliest.
“This action, which will be kept under constant review, has been taken due to the increasing numbers of clubs taking steps to isolate their players and staff because of the COVID-19 virus.
“The postponements include all matches in the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as all academy and youth team fixtures.
“In addition, clubs are being advised to suspend indefinitely all non-essential activities which include, but are not limited to, player appearances, training ground visits and fan meetings.’
Last night, Arteta, 37, became the first confirmed member of staff of a Premier League team to contract the disease, which was officially labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on Wednesday.
News of Arteta’s diagnosis yesterday came less than an hour after the Premier League announced that this weekend’s fixtures would still be played as planned – a decision which was then changed this morning.
Arteta and the entire first-team squad and coaching staff, will now be self-isolating in accordance with the most recent government guidelines.
Chelsea announced Hudson-Odoi, 19, had tested positive with COVID-19 at around midnight and said the training facility in Cobham, Surrey, will be partially closed.
Hudson-Odoi said in a video posted to Twitter this morning: ‘Hi guys, as you may be aware, I had the virus for the last couple of days, which I’ve recovered from. I’m following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week. I hope to see everybody soon, and hopefully be back on the pitch very soon. Take care.’
Catherine West MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Sport, said: ‘With the spread of the coronavirus, it is regrettably the right decision to suspend the football season. The welfare of fans, players and officials must come first.
‘It is vital that fans are not left out of pocket. Many pay thousands of pounds for season tickets, and clubs must work together to ensure that all fans are properly compensated.’
Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired a meeting of Cobra emergency committee in which he refused to ban mass gatherings or shut schools despite saying ‘many loved ones’ will die during the escalating crisis.
Passengers preparing to depart from Stansted airport in Essex this morning. Later in the day Boris Johnson refused to ban public gatherings
Arteta fist bumps Bukayo Sako after Arsenal’s win over West Ham in the Premier League
It is understood Arteta did not come into contact with Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who also tested positive, during their Europa League game on February 27.
There are over 590 confirmed cases of the virus in the UK, and 10 people have died from it so far. Nearly 5,000 people have died worldwide, and the number of cases has shot up to over 130,000.
The prime minister yesterday branded the virus the ‘worst public health crisis in a generation’ and warned that ‘many more’ people are going to die, but still held off drastic measures.
At a press conference in Westminster, Mr Johnson formally declared that the UK’s tactics have shifted from ‘containing’ the killer disease to merely ‘delaying’ its inevitable spread, after he chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee.
Mr Johnson said it was clear the disease will continue to spread around the world and people should brace for the ‘reality’ of ‘severe disruption’ for many months.
The Government’s new plan urges anyone with even mild coronavirus-like symptoms – a persistent cough or a fever – to quarantine themselves at home and to sleep alone if possible and stay at least two metres from relatives.
The PM has also recommended all overseas school trips be cancelled while people over the age of 70 or those with pre-existing serious medical conditions have been told not to go on cruises.
But he stopped short of more extreme measures such as closing schools and banning mass gatherings which have been adopted in Ireland, Norway, France and Italy in an effort to stem the spread of the virus.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday evening that Scotland was shutting down public events ‘that have the potential to have an impact on our frontline emergency services’.
Customers looking at empty shelves in the pasta section of a store in north London today as over 590 cases of the virus in the UK were confirmed
Arteta greets his rival manager David Moyes with a hug before their Premier League clash on March 7
Mr Johnson said the UK would not close schools yet even though government advisers admitted the move would help stem the outbreak.
Advisers said the length of closure necessary to make the measure work could be more than 16 weeks and would at this stage therefore not be feasible.
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance also said he believed the true number of infections was likely to be 5,000-10,000 already.
He estimated that the UK was four weeks behind the trajectory of the crisis in Italy – which has brought the country to its knees.
The peak of the outbreak in the UK might not come for 10 to 14 weeks, the experts said – suggesting it will run into June.
A spokesperson for Chelsea said the teenage midfielder became unwell and had the symptoms of a ‘mild cold’ and hoped their staff will be back to work soon.
The statement said: ‘Chelsea men’s team player Callum Hudson-Odoi had a positive test result for Coronavirus returned this evening [Thursday].
‘Chelsea personnel who had recent close contact with the player in the men’s team building will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. These will include initially the full men’s team squad, coaching staff and a number of backroom staff.
‘It is expected that those who did not have close contact with Callum will return to work in the coming days. In the meantime, the men’s team building, one of several separate buildings at our training ground, will remain closed. The rest of our training facility, Stamford Bridge and our other facilities are operating as normal.
‘Callum displayed symptoms similar to a mild cold on Monday morning and has not been at the training ground since then as a precaution.
‘However, his test came in positive this evening and he will undergo a period of self-isolation. Despite testing positive for the virus, Callum is doing well and looking forward to returning to the training ground as soon as it is possible.’
Arsenal played Olympiacos in the Europa League a couple of weeks ago, and since then the Greek club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis has tested positive for the virus.
Wolves’ match against Olympiacos yesterday evening was played behind closed doors as a precaution. Most of Europe’s top leagues have either suspended matches or will play games with no crowd until further notice.
Arsenal have closed down the London Colney training centre after the manager received a positive COVIC-19 result yesterday evening. First team players participated in a training session there on Tuesday afternoon.
A number of people from the Hale End Academy will also be in self-isolation, and the facility has been closed as a precaution as well. Both training centres will undergo a deep clean.
Anyone who has not come into close contact with Arteta is expected to return to work within the next few days.
Arteta said: ‘This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.’
Over the past week, Arsenal have played against Portsmouth in the FA Cup, and West Ham in the Premier League.
Handshakes were banned for the Premier League match, however Arteta still came into physical contact with a number of people during the game.
He fist bumped Bukayo Saka at full-time, and also embraced assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg, after hugging rival manager David Moyes before the game.
Juventus revealed on Thursday that 121 people, including players, directors, and staff are now in self-isolation after defender Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus.
Sampdoria striker Manolo Gabbiadini has also tested positive, with Italy one of the worst-hit countries. Three Leicester players are in self-isolation and Chelsea have cancelled a training session in order to deep clean their own facility.
Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is also in self-isolation after one of his family members tested positive.
On an unprecedented day of cancellations football league programmes in Spain, Portugal, Holland and the United States were suspended alongside postponements in rugby, tennis, golf, basketball and athletics.