Arteta, Dybala, Hudson-Odoi … Top players, coaches who’ve been infected with COVID-19 worldwide

By Victor Akuma

Like every other aspects of life, the football world has been dealt a huge blow by the coronavirus outbreak which has brought several soccer teams, governing bodies and agencies to their knees.

Players and coaches have also been affected with the pandemic. While some  are still undergoing treatment, a host of others have fully recovered from the killer virus.

Sadly, the soccer world has recorded loss of life as a result of the virus and no one can tell how much the virus still have in store for members of the biggest game in the world.

The pandemic has also made all national and league governing bodies to put a stop to team trainings and matches, leaving most, if not all the leagues across the globe unfinished. The 2020 Euro competition, for instance, has been shifted to 2021, pending how the pandemic is being handled.

As the world, particularly the football landscape, continues to grapple with outbreak of the pandemic, CRISPNG.COM examines several players and coaches who have been infected with virus so far and how the raging COVID-19 has generally changed the football.

1. Mikel Arteta: The young Arsenal coach was diagnosed of the virus and tested positive. The development came weeks after Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Olympiacos, said he had the virus after his side’s Europa league win over gunners in London. He is said to have recovered from virus.

2. Callum Hudson-Odoi: Odoi the Chelsea sensation tested positive to the virus but is now recovered.

3. Benjamin Mendy: The Manchester city player is believed to have contracted the virus after a close family relation tested positive and since then has been in self isolation.

4. Everton: It is reported that all Everton players had on March 13 gone into self isolation after a teammate complained of having symptoms of the virus.

5. Leicester city: Brendan Rodgers, the team’s coach had stated that a number of his players showed symptoms of the virus and have been encouraged to go on self isolation.

6. Artur Boruc: The Bournemouth goal keeper and a number of the team’s players have also gone on self isolation after showing symptoms of the virus.

7. Sean Raggett: The Norwich player on loan to Portsmouth has also tested positive to the virus.

8. James Bolton and Andy Cannon: Both Pompey players have also tested positive to the virus.

9. Daniel Rugani: The Juventus defender has been diagnosed with the virus. His case was confirmed after the team’s closed door match against Inter.

10. Blaise Matuidi: He is the second Juventus player to test positive of of the virus.

11. Paulo Dybala: The Argentine initially refuted news making rounds that he and his girl friend Oriana had the virus, but a test result proved that the lovers are actually positive.

12. Manolo Gabbiadini, Albin Ekdel,Antonio LA Gumina Thorsby, Fabio Depaoli and Bartosz Bereszynski : All these Sampdoria players have been confirmed to have the virus.

13. Dusan Vlahovic, Patrick Cutrone, German Pezzella: These are Fiorentina players who have so far tested positive for the virus.

14. Ezequiel Garay and Eliaquim Mangala,B who are both Valencia players have tested positive to the virus.

15. Francisco Garcia: The Malaga youth team coach became the first person to die of the virus in football, though he had earlier had health complications.

16. Espanyol: The team confirmed on March 17, that about six players and staff of the club tested positive for the virus.

17. Hyun-Jun Suk: The Troyes player has also tested positive for the virus.

18. Marouane Fellaini: The former Everton and  Man United player has also tested positive for the virus in China.

19. Liga MX president Enrique Bonilla, tested positive is another person who has for rested positive for the virus and had been quarantined.

20. Johan Djourou and Alexandre Song: The two players of FC Sion — though did not test positive for the virus — were among the nine players discharged by the team over a contract dispute arising from the pandemic.

These are the major cases of the virus in the football world as we pray for their quick recovery for all those infected with the pandemic worldwide.