COVID-19 cases take toll on ALM fixtures

Anna Harrington | December 29, 2021

Three additional A-League Men games have been postponed due to COVID-19 cases at Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City and Central Coast.

Brisbane became the latest club to report cases after fully vaccinated players returned positive PCR tests on Tuesday, forcing the postponement of Sunday’s away game against Melbourne Victory.

City’s away game against Newcastle on January 1 and the Mariners’ New Years’ Eve clash with Macarthur have also been postponed.

Sydney’s January 2 clash with Perth had already been moved due to the Glory isolating in Western Australia.

It follows the postponement of four matches last round.

“The Brisbane Roar men’s football department confirmed positive COVID-19 cases via PCR testing on 28 December, with all players, coaches and staff now in isolation and awaiting further results, while following the Queensland Health directives,” an A-Leagues statement said.

The Mariners confirmed they had more positive cases, on top of those reported on December 27, which scuppered that day’s planned clash with Wellington, and would be unable to field a team this week.

City previously had six cases on December 22, which saw their December 27 clash with the Roar cancelled, and won’t feature again this weekend, though the league was confident the champions would be back in action next week.

Every A-League Men club except Victory and Wellington has now reported COVID-19 cases.

There are two remaining games this weekend.

Adelaide, who had a COVID-19 case last week, are due to host Wellington on January 1.

The same day, Western Sydney and Western United, who also both had positive cases last week, are due to face off.

Meanwhile, Justis Huni’s return to the ring is under a cloud after the Australian heavyweight champion tested positive to COVID-19.

The world title hope this month flew to the US for a training camp ahead of a February 4 date with Joe Goodall in Brisbane.

Huni’s team confirmed the positive case on Wednesday, with a decision on the fight’s status to be made within a week.