England U19s vs Scotland U19s abandoned at half-time after coach tests positive for Covid-19
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Updated 08/10/2020 at 18:22 GMT
An international friendly between England U19s vs Scotland U19s was called off at half-time after it was revealed that Scotland head coach Billy Stark had tested positive for Covid-19. England were leading 3-1 in the match at St George's Park.
Scotland Under-19s head coach Billy Stark
Image credit: Getty Images
A friendly between England Under-19s and Scotland U19s was abandoned at half-time after Scotland head coach Billy Stark tested positive for Covid-19.
England were leading 3-1 in the match at St George’s Park when the teams went in for half-time. They didn't return for the second half after the positive test result was revealed.
The Scottish FA have said in a statement that it was U19s head coach Stark who tested positive, having tested negative on Sunday.
"The Under-19s squad and backroom team all delivered negative Covid-19 tests on Sunday to enable them to play in today’s match against England. Three players based in England joined up with the squad yesterday – and they and the rest of the squad were tested again with a view to Sunday’s second match.
"The three players had been in isolation and had no contact with anyone else. None the less, despite testing negative during Sunday’s test, the head coach, Billy Stark, returned a positive test for Covid-19 this afternoon.
"The result of the second test was immediately relayed to the Under-19 team manager and the game was abandoned immediately, in line with established Covid-19 protocol."
Stark will now self-isolate for 10 days while the players and rest of the backroom team will be required to do so for 14 days.
England confirmed the game had been abandoned "in line with Covid-19 protocol".
A statement said: "England Under-19s' match with Scotland at St George's Park this afternoon was abandoned in the first half as a precaution in line with Covid protocol. We are not in a position to comment further at this time."
England's senior side have been training at St George's Park as they prepare for games against Wales, Belgium and Denmark. Gareth Southgate's side face Wales in a friendly on Thursday evening.
Scotland have already encountered Covid-19 trouble this week with Stuart Armstrong testing positive when reporting for international duty. That has forced team-mates Kieran Tierney and Ryan Christie to self-isolate, although Arsenal and Tierney have disputed the ruling.
England’s U19 squad includes Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, Manchester United defender Teden Mengi and Manchester City’s Cole Palmer.
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