Football news - Man City cancel Troyes friendly after UK confirm Covid-19 self-isolation rules

ByAlexander Netherton

Updated 21/07/2021 at 17:34 GMT

Premier League champions Manchester City have been forced to cancel their planned pre-season friendly against Ligue 1 side Troyes, after the United Kingdom government enforced rules that oblige visitors to the country to self-isolate for 10 days upon their return. They will now play Preston and Leicester City as their preparation games for the new season.

Manchester City have abandoned their plans for a pre-season friendly against French club Troyes at the end of July.

City were due to face their sister club on July 31, but coronavirus restrictions meant that players would be obliged to self-isolate upon their return.

That means City have two games ahead of the start of the new season, with the Community Shield against Leicester one of their games to get read for the new Premier League season.

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France is now a newly designated ‘amber-plus’ country, meaning that even fully vaccinated travellers are obliged to spend 10 days self-isolating upon their return.

City’s first pre-season friendly will be against Preston on July 27, behind closed doors at their academy ground.

A club statement confirmed: “Manchester City are disappointed to confirm that our planned pre-season friendly at fellow CFG (City Football Group) club ES Troyes AC has been cancelled.

“Both clubs explored all avenues to be able to play the game, but the recent UK government changes to quarantine rules for travellers returning from France, has made the required restrictions too difficult to overcome.

“Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad will remain in Manchester and continue their pre-season preparations at the City Football Academy. There are no plans to replace the ESTAC friendly with another pre-season fixture.”

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