Major football clubs worldwide affected by coronavirus

Manchester City's game against Arsenal is to be rearranged as a number of Gunners players are required to self-isolate. [Courtesy]

The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has seen major sporting events cancelled.

The virus has not only stopped football matches and competitions but directly had an impact on players, managers and owners, with many having tested positive.

As of March 17, 2020, at least 15 professional soccer players, one manager and one football club owner have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

This has cut across the major football leagues around the world including the Premier League, Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, La Liga, with Italy’s Serie A mostly affected.

Here is a list of clubs worldwide affected by COVID-19:

English Premier League

1.       Arsenal – The entire men's first team is self-isolating, following news of head coach Mikel Arteta contracting the virus.  Staff who have been in contact with Arteta have also put themselves in self-isolation.

2.       Chelsea – The entire Chelsea first-team squad and staff are currently in self-isolation after Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the coronavirus last week on Thursday.

3.       Manchester City- French player Benjamin Mendy is in self-isolation following news a family member's hospitalisation with symptoms of a respiratory illness. City's players are still not training at the club's £200million City Football Academy complex amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. 

4.       Leicester City – Three unnamed members of the Leicester City squad are in precautionary self-isolation after showing symptoms of an 'extremely mild illness' last week.

5.       Everton – An unnamed member of the first-team squad is in seven days of self-isolation after reporting high temperature late last week. The entire squad is in self-isolation since March 13.

A general view outside the stadium ahead of the match which will be played behind closed doors while the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world. [Courtesy]

La Liga –Spain

1.       Valencia - Valencia have said more than a third of their playing and backroom staff have tested positive for the coronavirus but that all cases were currently asymptomatic.

Valencia have confirmed 35 per cent of its player and backroom staff have contracted Covid -19.

The club had reported five cases of on Sunday, March 15 with Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay and France’s Eliaquim Mangala both affected.

2.       Real Madrid – The entire squad is self-isolating following a member of the basketball team testing positive for coronavirus (March 12).

Serie A- Italy

Sampdoria forward Gabbiadini becomes second Serie A player to test positive. [Courtesy]

1.       Juventus – Italian player Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus (March 11). This has led to the Juventus entire men's first team in self-isolating, plus staff who have been in contact with Rugani

2.       Sampdoria – Five players have tested positive for Covid-19 including Omar Colley, Albin Ekdal, Manolo Gabbiadini, Antonino La Gumina , Morten Thorsby and as club doctor Amedeo Baldari.

3.       Fiorentina - Four players have been confirmed to have contracted the virus, inclusing Patrick Cutrone and defender German Pezzella and on-loan forward Patrick Cutrone.

Bundesliga- German Football League

Paderborn’s central defender Luca Kilian was confirmed to have Covid-19 on Saturday, march 14.

The German Football League (DFL) announced suspension of the two top tier leagues until April 3.

Greece

Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest majority owner Evangelos Marinakis stated last week that he has contracted coronavirus.

Marinakis was at the Emirates Stadium when his side played Arsenal in the Europa League on February 27.