Glory player tests positive for COVID-19
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Perth Glory owner Tony Sage says the club’s entire A-League Men squad could be ruled out of Saturday’s clash with Brisbane Roar after a player tested positive to COVID-19.
Glory became the latest club to be hit with a COVID-positive result on Thursday, following on from the Newcastle Jets, Western United and Sydney FC.
All members of the Glory squad tested negative when they left Adelaide earlier this week, but an unnamed player tested positive shortly after arriving in Brisbane and was informed of the result on Wednesday night.
It means the player and his roommate will be unavailable for the game against the Roar.
If the rest of the Glory squad are also deemed to be close contacts, then all would be ruled out and the game would have to be postponed.
That scenario would also likely result in Perth’s game in Adelaide next week against the Reds postponed as well.
Glory players and staff are currently stranded in their Brisbane hotel waiting for further advice.
“Now the whole of the squad is being retested and hopefully it’s only the one player (who has caught the virus),” Sage told Perth radio station 6PR.
“But the person he’s sharing the room with is considered a close contact. He definitely won’t be able to play.
“So definitely two players ruled out, but maybe the whole squad is ruled out for Saturday’s game.
“Hopefully by the end of today we’ll know what their decision is.”
Sage said Perth are not allowed to reveal the identity of the player just yet and they were investigating how the player contracted the virus.
“We were in Adelaide for a period of time,” Sage said.
“The players were kept segregated in the hotel, we were able to train.
“It’s very difficult to find. Unless it came from one of the employees at the hotel or someone who ate at the hotel.
“We are investigating because we need to know for close contacts and who else in the squad is vulnerable.”
Western United coach John Aloisi confirmed one of his players tested positive to COVID-19 earlier this week, but at this stage Friday’s clash with Adelaide United at AAMI Park is going ahead.
“We haven’t had any more cases as of yet and we’ll do all the testing,” Aloisi said.
“We do our rapid tests every day and we’ll do PCR tests today, and we’re ready to play tomorrow.”
The COVID-positive player – whose identity is being kept private by the club – is isolating away from the club and is not displaying major symptoms.
The majority of the squad have been able to train as normal in the build-up to the Adelaide clash.
But United have told players to avoid unnecessary ventures out in public, in order to reduce possible exposure to the virus.
“We’re in constant contact with the APL to make sure that we’re across all the protocols but we’re also making sure that the players understand that it’s going to training and straight home, and not visiting any sites – cafes, restaurants or whatever,” Aloisi said.
Glory have been on the road for all but their season-opener due to Western Australia’s hard border.
Players were originally told they would be able to return home for Christmas before hitting the road again, but that option now looks dead in the water.
“They are distraught,” Sage said.
“They saw light at the end of the tunnel and that light now has just turned off.”
