Spain captain Sergio Busquets tests positive for coronavirus just EIGHT days away from their opening Euro 2020 game… with the Under-21s now playing against Lithuania in Tuesday’s friendly
Spain’s preparations for the European Championship have taken a hit after captain Sergio Busquets tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday.
The Spanish Football Federation said Busquets has left the team’s training camp in Madrid, and everyone else in close contact with the Barcelona player has been put in isolation as per UEFA and local health safety protocols.
All other players in the squad tested negative for COVID-19, the federation said.
Spain captain Sergio Busquets has tested positive for coronavirus ahead of Euro 2020
The 32-year-old led his country against Portugal on Friday but will now have to self-isolate
An official statement read: ‘The RFEF regrets to announce that its captain Sergio Busquets has given a positive result in the last PCR test that was carried out this morning at the concentration of the national team in Las Rozas.
‘The rest of the members of the concentration have all tested negative.
‘The Federation’s medical services have adopted all the necessary measures in a case of these characteristics in accordance with the protocols established by both the Ministry of Health and UEFA, so that the footballer has abandoned the concentration in a medicalised vehicle.
‘Both the workers and the close contacts of the player will remain isolated for prevention in the concentration of the national team and personalised training routines will be activated, maintaining the isolation, to continue with the preparation of the Euros.’
As a result of Busquets’ positive test, Spain’s Under-21s will now play Lithuania on Tuesday
Personalised practice routines will be put into place so health safety protocols can be observed as the team continues its preparations for Euro 2020.
Spain are set to play their first match on June 14 against Sweden in Seville.
Spain’s final warm-up match against Lithuania on Tuesday will be played with under-21 players, and under-21 squad coach Luis de la Fuente will be in charge. The federation said it will fully refund fans if they don’t wish to attend.
More to follow…