Friday’s Ligue 1 Opener Called Off After Marseille Record Four Positive Covid-19 Cases
Friday’s Ligue 1 opening game between Olympique Marseille and Saint Etienne at the Stade Velodrome has been called off after four persons from the home side tested positive for coronavirus.
Marseille revealed on Sunday that three individuals from the club had developed covid-19 symptoms and follow up tests conducted on Monday indicated that all three cases came back positive. That brings the total number of positive cases in Marseille to four after another case was discovered last week.
Marseille's administration team delivered a message to supporters via Twitter on Tuesday, which reads: "Following the tests carried out on Monday, no new cases of Covid-19 were revealed, but Sunday's 3 suspected cases have been confirmed."
An official statement released by the Ligue 1 authorities following Marseille’s announcement read: "In view of the medical results transmitted by Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday, August 18, the national Covid commission indicates to the LFP Competitions Commission that the virus is circulating within the Marseille club and proposes the postponement of the match."
Friday’s game was set to be the first Ligue 1 game to be contested since the French top flight was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2019/2020 season was cut short in April, with Paris Saint Germain declared champions on a points-per-game basis while Marseille secured Champions League qualification by finishing as runners-up.
The Marseille-Saint Etienne game has been provisionally scheduled for September 16 or 17 but the rest of this weekend’s opening games will go ahead as planned.
