epa08405286 (FILE) - Galatasaray's Florin Andone (R) in action against Besiktas' Domagoj Vida (L) during the Turkish Super League soccer derby match between Galatasaray and Besiktas in Istanbul, Turkey, 15 March 2020 (re-issued on 06 May 2020). On 06 May 2020  Nihat Ozdemir, president of Turkish Football Association, said in a TV interview that Turkish Super League will resume on 12 June 2020. The League was temporarly suspended on 19 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.  EPA/ERDEM SAHIN *** Local Caption *** 55955141
File photo of Galatasaray's Florin Andone, right, against Besiktas' Domagoj Vida during the Turkish Super League match in Istanbul in March. Image for representation. EPA

Besiktas player, staff member test positive for coronavirus


One Besiktas player and a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus three days after it was announced that the Turkish league will resume next month, the club said on Saturday.

League leaders Trabzonspor, champions Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas are among the clubs which held training sessions this week in small groups in line with guidelines set by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).

Besiktas said all their players and coaching staff had been tested, adding that the player and staff member who tested positive had started their treatment.

Fenerbahce said on Friday one of their staff members had tested positive for the virus, forcing the club to cancel a scheduled practice session.

Turkey's domestic leagues will resume without fans on June 12 after a three-month suspension and TFF chairman Nihat Ozdemir said on Wednesday the country is planning to host the Champions League final in late August.

Turkey announced on Monday that it will start to gradually ease lockdown measures after the virus outbreak had plateaued.