OT: MLS is Back Tournament Could be at Risk

[VandallHuskerJulie]

Major League Soccer has confirmed six FC Dallas players have tested positive for the novel coronavirus since the team arrived in Orlando, Fla., but the number may actually be much higher, leaving the team’s participation in the MLS Is Back tournament in doubt and raising questions over whether the competition should go forward at all.

“The tournament is on thin ice,” said Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist at Oxford College of Emory University. “It all depends on what we see in terms of positive tests over the next week or so.”

https://www.latimes.com/sports/socc...VsLRL589mioBeD4y37k4RQk8KtwaCNHIGjRsrls9V895M

 

[jflores]

Color me, not surprised.

 

[VandallHuskerJulie]

Toronto FC postponed their trip on July 4 after a member of their travel party reported experiencing symptoms to the team medical staff. According to the club, the individual is isolating at home and is being assessed virtually by team medical staff. Travel details will be shared after a new round of test results are received for the entire club travel party.

The Colorado Rapids postponed their trip on July 5 after the team was alerted to two presumptive positive COVID-19 tests in its traveling party. Pending final lab results, and after consultation with league and club medical medical staff, the Rapids have opted to delay their departure until Tuesday, July 7, noting that they will share further travel details when available.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/06/24/mls-teams-begin-arriving-orlando-mls-back-tournament

 

[VandallHuskerJulie]

It just keeps getting better. Per twitter an hour ago
Reporting with
@samstejskal
: Nashville SC has had five players test positive since arriving in Orlando on Friday, per sources. One upon arrival, four more since. Last four need to be confirmed by follow-ups. Nashville hasn’t trained since Tuesday. Set to play Fire on Wednesday.

 

[tpmcg]

how many on a team - incl staff?

 

[VandallHuskerJulie]

how many on a team - incl staff?

Sorry, I'm not sure. Everyone is tested before they go to Orlando and repeatedly once they arrive in Orlando. Several games have already been pushed back to a later date due to positive tests. Let's face it, Orlando is a hot spot for Covid 19.
The NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) from Orlando had to drop out of the tourney the women are now playing in Utah due to high positive numbers.

As with most/all professional sports it's all about the $$$, not the players/staff. The Sounder's coach basically said he'd prefer not to go. (Geez - bad enough that you made it thru the original Covid hot spot - Seattle - and now you have to go to one of the new hot spots.) The MLS is being rather tight lipped about cases - you find out more on twitter than on the MLS site.

 

[VandallHuskerJulie]

Based on data provided by MLS, as well as reports elsewhere, Dallas has been by far the hardest hit team in MLS in terms positive tests. Dallas had three players test positive before the team even left for Orlando. That has since been followed by 10 players and one coach testing positive. Gonzalez said that the FCD players and staff have been quarantined in their rooms for six days, only able to meet via Zoom.

.https://www.espn.com/soccer/fc-dall...n-virus-cases-priority-is-safety-over-playing

 

[tpmcg]

if its 30-40, those are some pretty high %s.

 

[jmliehr]

if its 30-40, those are some pretty high %s.

MLS squads are 26-30, then you have a head coach, 3 assistants usually, training staff, gear people, chefs and other support staff, my guess is 45-60 total per team.

 

[VandallHuskerJulie]

Reporting with
@samstejskal
: FC Dallas will not compete in the #MLSisBack tournament, per multiple sources with knowledge of the decision.

FC Dallas will not participate in the MLS is Back tournament following the high number of positive tests of the coronavirus within the club, sources have told ESPN.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/fc-dall...mls-is-back-tournament-amid-coronavirus-cases