On Wednesday, Juventus publicly announced Daniele Rugani had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Italian defender was the first player in Serie A - Italy’s major soccer league - to contract the disease.
According to the Italian newspaper ‘La Repubblica’, Rugani did not show any particular symptoms.
In a post on Twitter, Rugani said he was "well" and thanked all the doctors and nurses "fighting in the hospitals to face this emergency".
A statement from Juventus read: "121 people, including football players, staff members, directors, entourage and Juventus employees are observing a period of voluntary home isolation, in compliance with the requirements of the health authorities based on the provisions currently in force.
Rugani is currently in solitary confinement at the club’s hotel for 14 days, as Juventus tries to track down all the contacts and interactions that the defender had in the last 2 weeks.
According to the protocol, even Juventus' Under-23 team was recently subject to self-quarantine after a player from an opposing team tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2.
Luckily for Rugani and his teammates, the quarantine ended on March 9, with none of the players showed symptoms.
Several Juventus players have however decided to spend the 14 days of self-inflicted isolation back home, as they resulted in negative to the test.
Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo had returned to his native island of Madeira to visit his mother who recently reportedly suffered a stroke, CNN reports.
Just less than 20 hours after Juventus announced Rugani’s COVID-19 test result, UEFA - Europe major soccer governing body - have confirmed that the match between Juventus and Lyon was officially postponed.
The French side had been due to meet Juventus on Tuesday 17 March for the second-leg of their last 16 clash of the Champions League.
UEFA still has not revealed when the match is set to be rescheduled, amid fears that this season’s edition of the Champions League and Europa League, as well as the summers European championship, might end up being canceled.
A statement on UEFA.com released on Thursday reads: “In the light of the ongoing developments in the spread of COVID-19 across Europe and the changing analysis of the World Health Organisation, UEFA has today invited representatives of its 55 member associations, together with the boards of the European Club Association and the European Leagues and a representative of FIFPro, to attend meetings by videoconference on Tuesday 17 March to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak”.
“Discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including UEFA EURO 2020. Further communication will be made following those meetings”.
While European soccer is holding its breath for the final decision, Serie A clubs are rapidly taking measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
FC Inter announced last Wednesday that following the news that Rugani has tested positive for COVID-19, 'all competitive activities have been suspended until further notice'.
Additionally, US Sampdoria forward Manolo Gabbiadini has tested positive for COVID-19, the Italian club has confirmed.
A statement from the club read: "Manolo Gabbiadini has a slight fever, but is doing well. The club is activating all the procedures of isolation laid out in the rules."
Just like Juventus, US Sampdoria, and FC Inter, almost all Serie A sides are currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including the census of those who have had contact with Rugani and Gabbiadini.
Hellas Verona announced that following the news that recent opponent Manolo Gabbiadini has tested positive for COVID-19, "any scheduled competitive activity is suspended until further notice".
Source: FORBES