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Virus cruels Wizards, postpones NBA games

3 minute read

The coronavirus is not showing any signs of abating and continues to wreak havoc with sport around the world.

Mauricio Pochettino.
Mauricio Pochettino. Picture: Press Photo

Six Washington Wizards players have tested positive for COVID-19, as the virus continues to rage and disrupt sport worldwide.

The NBA franchise's general manager Tommy Sheppard said two of the infected players have displayed symptoms while the other four are asymptomatic so far.

Sheppard said no members of the team's staff tested positive.

The Wizards earlier announced their next two scheduled games were being postponed: at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday and Monday.

That makes four consecutive games for Washington to have been called off.

Hours later, the NBA postponed the Memphis Grizzlies-Minnesota Timberwolves clash, citing a similar shortfall of available players on the Minnesota team, making it the 12th game since Sunday that the league has postponed.

The NHL on Friday delayed the Dallas Stars' 2020-21 season opener after a team-wide outbreak in which 17 players tested positive, and the team is now expected to open against the Nashville Predators on January 22.

In France, Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino tested positive for the virus and will miss the French league game at Angers as he self-isolates.

Pochettino took over this month after Thomas Tuchel was fired, and on Wednesday won the first silverware of his career when PSG beat Marseille in the Champions Trophy.

PSG had players missing for that game after testing positive for COVID-19 and the team hugged in a big group amid jubilant celebrations after the final whistle.

Pochettino was not wearing a face mask when he was hugged by Neymar after he scored a late penalty, nor when joining in trophy celebrations with the players.

In another development, the match between Lorient and Dijon in Ligue 1 on Sunday was called off because of a growing number of cases in the Lorient squad.

Meanwhile Auckland City have given up their spot in next month's Club World Cup due to the pandemic and quarantine measures required by New Zealand's authorities.

The 2020 edition of the tournament, which was originally scheduled for December, is now being held from February 1-11 in Qatar and brings together continental champions from across the world.

"Despite FIFA's regular exchanges with the club, New Zealand Football and the OFC in recent days, the requirements of the New Zealand authorities in relation to isolation and quarantine go beyond FIFA's remit and, therefore, it was not possible to reach a solution," FIFA said in a statement on Friday.

Auckland City were originally scheduled to play Qatari side Al Duhail, who will now enter the competition in the second round.

The one-day cricket international between the United Arab Emirates and Ireland in Abu Dhabi on Saturday was postponed again after four UAE players tested positive for the virus.

The second ODI was to be played last Sunday, and was postponed to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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