Premiera Liga - Game abandoned as Belenenses name just nine players to face Benfica due to Covid-19 outbreak
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Updated 27/11/2021 at 22:06 GMT
By now, teams around the world are used to having to deal with absences of players as they self-isolate due to coronavirus infection or exposure, but Portuguese team Belenenses have had perhaps the most severe effect yet. They faced Benfica on Saturday night but could only field nine players - including two goalkeepers - due to a Covid-19 outbreak, before the match was abandoned.
Trova Boni
Image credit: Getty Images
Belenenses named just nine outfield players in a match against Benfica on Saturday night, with the game called off at 7-0 when injuries reduced the team to six.
The Portuguese side could not field a full strength side due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the club, and rather than cancel the fixture and potentially suffer further penalties, the club went ahead without subs, and without the full complement of players.
Two goalkeepers were named to bulk out the team, and Benfica showed little mercy as they went ahead after just one minute through an own goal.
Joao Monteiro, a goalkeeper by trade, started at right-back.
Things went from bad to worse when their opponents rattled in another six goals before half-time. The home side tried not to come out for the second half, but when their number was reduced to six through injury, the game had to be called off in the second half.
The minimum number of players needed to meet requirements for an official match is seven.
Benfica started the game in third position, hoping to keep the pressure up on league leaders Porto.
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