• Former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini tested positive in China where he plays for Shandong Luneng. He has now been discharged. Reuters
    Former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini tested positive in China where he plays for Shandong Luneng. He has now been discharged. Reuters
  • Juventus' Paulo Dybala said both he and his girlfriend Oriana tested positive though both were in "perfect conditions". AP Photo
    Juventus' Paulo Dybala said both he and his girlfriend Oriana tested positive though both were in "perfect conditions". AP Photo
  • Milan's sports director and club legend Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel, who plays for the same club, tested positive for Covid-19. A statement from the club said both are well. EPA
    Milan's sports director and club legend Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel, who plays for the same club, tested positive for Covid-19. A statement from the club said both are well. EPA
  • Wu Lei of Espanyol. "Wu Lei has mild symptoms and is currently undergoing treatment," the CFA said in a statement, adding that they had been given the news by La Liga strugglers Espanyol. The 28-year-old striker, China's best-known player, is in self-isolation at home in Barcelona, Xinhua news agency said. Getty Images
    Wu Lei of Espanyol. "Wu Lei has mild symptoms and is currently undergoing treatment," the CFA said in a statement, adding that they had been given the news by La Liga strugglers Espanyol. The 28-year-old striker, China's best-known player, is in self-isolation at home in Barcelona, Xinhua news agency said. Getty Images
  • Kevin Durant is reportedly among four Brooklyn Nets players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and are in isolation. The injured Durant, who has yet to play for the Nets since signing for the team last year, confirmed to The Athletic website he had tested positive for the virus. "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this," Durant was quoted as saying. AFP
    Kevin Durant is reportedly among four Brooklyn Nets players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and are in isolation. The injured Durant, who has yet to play for the Nets since signing for the team last year, confirmed to The Athletic website he had tested positive for the virus. "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this," Durant was quoted as saying. AFP
  • Juventus confirmed on Tuesday night that French midfielder Blaise Matuidi had become the second player from the club to test positive for the coronavirus. Italian defender Daniele Rugani was the first player to play in Serie A to test positive last week. EPA
    Juventus confirmed on Tuesday night that French midfielder Blaise Matuidi had become the second player from the club to test positive for the coronavirus. Italian defender Daniele Rugani was the first player to play in Serie A to test positive last week. EPA
  • Valencia's Eliaquim Mangala, left, was one of five players and staff at the club to test positive. "I'm feeling good and I have no symptoms associated with the virus. However, I am confined in house and separated from my family," he said on Twitter. AP Photo
    Valencia's Eliaquim Mangala, left, was one of five players and staff at the club to test positive. "I'm feeling good and I have no symptoms associated with the virus. However, I am confined in house and separated from my family," he said on Twitter. AP Photo
  • Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive on March 14 but said he was "feeling better already" the following day. Staff who had been in contact with him were self-isolating. AFP
    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive on March 14 but said he was "feeling better already" the following day. Staff who had been in contact with him were self-isolating. AFP
  • Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert, who apologized for his careless actions before he was diagnosed with novel coronavirus, has pledged to donate more than half a million dollars to health services and arena workers affected by the pandemic. AFP
    Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert, who apologized for his careless actions before he was diagnosed with novel coronavirus, has pledged to donate more than half a million dollars to health services and arena workers affected by the pandemic. AFP
  • Valencia's Ezequiel Garay was the first La Liga player to test positive on March 15. "I tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and now all that's left is to do what the health authorities say, which is to isolate myself," he said on Instagram. All football is suspended in Spain. EPA
    Valencia's Ezequiel Garay was the first La Liga player to test positive on March 15. "I tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and now all that's left is to do what the health authorities say, which is to isolate myself," he said on Instagram. All football is suspended in Spain. EPA
  • Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi was the first Premier League player to test positive. He said on Twitter on March 13: "As you may be aware I had the virus for the last couple of days which I have recovered from. I am following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week. I hope to see everybody soon and hopefully will be back on the pitch very soon. Reuters
    Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi was the first Premier League player to test positive. He said on Twitter on March 13: "As you may be aware I had the virus for the last couple of days which I have recovered from. I am following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week. I hope to see everybody soon and hopefully will be back on the pitch very soon. Reuters
  • Juventus' Italian defender Daniele Rugani was confirmed to have the virus on March 12. "You've read the news, so I want to reassure everyone who's worried about me, I'm fine," Rugani said on Twitter. The entire Juventus squad is to spend two weeks in quarantine. AFP
    Juventus' Italian defender Daniele Rugani was confirmed to have the virus on March 12. "You've read the news, so I want to reassure everyone who's worried about me, I'm fine," Rugani said on Twitter. The entire Juventus squad is to spend two weeks in quarantine. AFP
  • Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was the second NBA player to contract the virus. The NBA season has been suspended. AP Photo
    Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was the second NBA player to contract the virus. The NBA season has been suspended. AP Photo
  • Manolo Gabbiadini of Sampdoria is one of five players to have tested positive at the club. "I still want to tell you that I'm fine, so don't worry. Follow all the rules, stay at home and everything will work out," said Gabbiadini on Twitter. PA Wire.
    Manolo Gabbiadini of Sampdoria is one of five players to have tested positive at the club. "I still want to tell you that I'm fine, so don't worry. Follow all the rules, stay at home and everything will work out," said Gabbiadini on Twitter. PA Wire.
  • Sampdoria's Omar Colley, right, was confirmed to have coronavirus. Lapresse via AP
    Sampdoria's Omar Colley, right, was confirmed to have coronavirus. Lapresse via AP
  • Albin Ekdal of Sampdoria tested positive. Italy is one of the worst affected countries. Getty Images
    Albin Ekdal of Sampdoria tested positive. Italy is one of the worst affected countries. Getty Images
  • Fabio Depaoli, left of Sampdoria, said on Instagram that he was "fine" after testing positive. Getty Images
    Fabio Depaoli, left of Sampdoria, said on Instagram that he was "fine" after testing positive. Getty Images
  • Morten Thorsby, left, was one of five Sampdoria footballers to test positive. Lapresse via AP
    Morten Thorsby, left, was one of five Sampdoria footballers to test positive. Lapresse via AP
  • Fiorentina foward Patrick Cutrone, on loan from Premier League Wolves, is one of three players to test positive at the club. EPA
    Fiorentina foward Patrick Cutrone, on loan from Premier League Wolves, is one of three players to test positive at the club. EPA
  • German Pezzella, right, of Fiorentina, said on Instagram that his symptoms had disappeared after he tested positive. EPA
    German Pezzella, right, of Fiorentina, said on Instagram that his symptoms had disappeared after he tested positive. EPA
  • Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic was another confirmed case. Fiorentina said in a statement on March 13: "The club is in the process of undertaking all the necessary isolation procedures in accordance with the regulations, starting with identifying all the people who have had contact with the player." EPA
    Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic was another confirmed case. Fiorentina said in a statement on March 13: "The club is in the process of undertaking all the necessary isolation procedures in accordance with the regulations, starting with identifying all the people who have had contact with the player." EPA
  • Hannover's Timo Hubers, right, was the first player in Germany to be diagnosed. Reuters
    Hannover's Timo Hubers, right, was the first player in Germany to be diagnosed. Reuters
  • Paderborn's Luca Kilian tested positive. The Bundesliga has been suspended until April 2. EPA
    Paderborn's Luca Kilian tested positive. The Bundesliga has been suspended until April 2. EPA

Coronavirus: Marouane Fellaini, Paulo Dybala and other sports stars to have tested positive


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

A number of sports clubs around the world have been put into quarantine after individual players were diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Among the most high-profile new cases were Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, Milan legend Paolo Maldini and Espanyol's high-profile Chinese player Wu Lei.

Most recently, NBA superstar Kevin Dutant and three of his Brooklyn Nets teammates have tested positive, while Italian football giants Juventus said French midfielder Blaise Matuidi had also contracted the virus.

Real Madrid's professional football and basketball squads were placed in quarantine after a player from the basketball team tested positive.

The top football leagues have been suspended, while Euro 2020 has been postponed until next year.

The opening of the Formula One season has been delayed, while the NBA season in the US has been suspended "until further notice".

As it stands, the International Olympic Committee remains fully committed to staging the Tokyo 2020 Games as scheduled this summer.

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Football stadiums across Europe sit empty

  • Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in North London, England. The Gunners manager Mikel Arteta was on Friday confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus. AFP
    Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in North London, England. The Gunners manager Mikel Arteta was on Friday confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus. AFP
  • General view outside Villa Park, home of Premier League side Aston Villa, who were due to host Chelsea on Saturday. The Premier League is suspended due to fears over the coronavirus. Reuters
    General view outside Villa Park, home of Premier League side Aston Villa, who were due to host Chelsea on Saturday. The Premier League is suspended due to fears over the coronavirus. Reuters
  • The empty entrance to the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona after La Liga said Spain's top two divisions would be suspended for at least two weeks over the coronavirus outbreak. AFP
    The empty entrance to the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona after La Liga said Spain's top two divisions would be suspended for at least two weeks over the coronavirus outbreak. AFP
  • Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club, in West London. Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi is a confirmed case of the Covid-19 virus. AFP
    Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club, in West London. Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi is a confirmed case of the Covid-19 virus. AFP
  • Everton's Goodison Park. Everton were set to host Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Monday before the English football authorities suspended all games at least until April. Reuters
    Everton's Goodison Park. Everton were set to host Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Monday before the English football authorities suspended all games at least until April. Reuters
  • Juventus' Allianz Arena in Turin. Juventus player Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus last week, as Serie A suspended all matches. Reuters
    Juventus' Allianz Arena in Turin. Juventus player Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus last week, as Serie A suspended all matches. Reuters
  • Fams with a Romanian flag outside Luton's ground. Championship matchs have also been suspended. Reuters
    Fams with a Romanian flag outside Luton's ground. Championship matchs have also been suspended. Reuters
  • Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. City's midweek fixture against Arsenal was the first top-tier English football match postponed due to the coronavirus. City were due to host Burnley at home in the Premier League on Saturday. Reuters
    Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. City's midweek fixture against Arsenal was the first top-tier English football match postponed due to the coronavirus. City were due to host Burnley at home in the Premier League on Saturday. Reuters
  • Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium is empty after the Championship match against Swansea City was postponed. Reuters
    Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium is empty after the Championship match against Swansea City was postponed. Reuters
  • Newcastle United's St James' Park. The Premier League club were due to host Sheffield United on Saturday. Reuters
    Newcastle United's St James' Park. The Premier League club were due to host Sheffield United on Saturday. Reuters
  • Carrow Road, home of Premier League basement club Norwich City. The Canaries were set to play Southampton on Saturday. Reuters
    Carrow Road, home of Premier League basement club Norwich City. The Canaries were set to play Southampton on Saturday. Reuters
  • Hampden Park was supposed to host the Glasgow derby between Rangers and Celtic on Saturday before football at all levels in Scotland was called off because of the coronavirus. Reuters
    Hampden Park was supposed to host the Glasgow derby between Rangers and Celtic on Saturday before football at all levels in Scotland was called off because of the coronavirus. Reuters
  • A woman wearing a protective face mask arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid as Real Madrid players went into quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak, on March 12, 2020. Madrid were set to host Eibar in La Liga on Sunday. AFP
    A woman wearing a protective face mask arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid as Real Madrid players went into quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak, on March 12, 2020. Madrid were set to host Eibar in La Liga on Sunday. AFP
  • General view of Vicarage Road, home of Watford, which was due to host the opening Premier League match of this weekend when the Hornets were slated to face Leicester City. Reuters
    General view of Vicarage Road, home of Watford, which was due to host the opening Premier League match of this weekend when the Hornets were slated to face Leicester City. Reuters
  • West Bromwich Albion's home ground The Hawthorns. The Championship club were set to play Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon. Reuters
    West Bromwich Albion's home ground The Hawthorns. The Championship club were set to play Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon. Reuters
  • West Ham United's London Stadium was set to host the match against Wolves on Sunday before the match was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. EPA
    West Ham United's London Stadium was set to host the match against Wolves on Sunday before the match was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. EPA