Avai vs Chapecoense derby cancelled after 14 players test positive for coronavirus

Authorities had no choice but to cancel one of southern Brazil’s biggest footballing derbies less than 24 hours before kick-off on Saturday after 14 members of one side tested positive for coronavirus. The Santa Catarina state championship restarted on the 8th of July with four games, including Chapecoense’s 2-0 home win over Avai. The return match was due to kick off on Sunday at 4pm but […]
2020-07-12 19:26:02

Authorities had no choice but to cancel one of southern Brazil’s biggest footballing derbies less than 24 hours before kick-off on Saturday after 14 members of one side tested positive for coronavirus.

The Santa Catarina state championship restarted on the 8th of July with four games, including Chapecoense’s 2-0 home win over Avai.

The return match was due to kick off on Sunday at 4pm but was cancelled on the orders of the state’s Health Secretariat.

“One of the teams had 14 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and it is necessary for all the players to follow the necessary protective measures. The State Department of Health remains attentive to any advance in transmission and these measures are taken to safeguard the health of all.” it said in a statement.

It did not say which side had produced 14 positive tests but Globesporte report that it was Chapecoense. The club have so far failed to comment on the report.

Chapeconese have also apparently been questioned if the players who tested positive in question were on the pitch when they played against Avai in their previous fixture last Wednesday.

However, Avai announced on Saturday that they carried out tests on players that were supposed to play on Sunday. The tests brought back a negative result for everyone which is good news at least. In addition to the players, the club also tested the members of the technical committee and board of directors, employees from various areas, glands and makeup artists.

The players who tested positive are now expected to self-isolate while the fixture gets rescheduled for another date. Elsewhere, the other fixtures in the competition are set to go on as planned.