This year's first overseas expedition from the soccer team came out of a pile of confirmed coronavirus infection-19 (Corona 19), and an emergency took place.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced on the 14th "Corona 19 gene amplification (PCR) test conducted at 5 pm local time on the 12th according to the rules of the International Football Federation (FIFA). Ulsan), Hwang In-beom (Hubin Kazan) and one staff member were positive."
The association said, "All five are currently without symptoms." "He added.
For all negative judges, the Corona 19 diagnostic test will be re-initiated at 8 a.m. local time on the 14th.
In addition, the association said, "After confirming the retest results, we will decide whether to proceed with the match after consultation with the Mexican and Austrian football associations according to the guidelines of Austrian authorities."
The Korean national team, led by coach Paulo Bento, will play a friendly match against Mexico at 5 am KST on the 15th day of Korea time with Mexico at Vienna Neustadt Stadion on the 15th and Qatar at 10 pm on the 17th at the BSFZ Arena.
It has been a year since the national soccer team played in Abu Dhabi on November 19 last year in Brazil and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Bento's final A match was the final match of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship against Japan in Busan on December 18 last year.
As coach Bento went on an overseas expedition after a long time, he called all the core resources of the national team playing in Europe, including Sohn Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Ui-jo (Bordeaux), Hwang Hee-chan (Salzburg), Lee Jae-sung (Holstein Kiel), and Lee Kang-in (Valencia). I did.
After departing from Korea on the 8th, players from Jeonbuk Hyundai, Ulsan Hyundai, and Europeans joined the national team in turn and were preparing for two friendly matches.
The association has worked to prevent COVID-19 infection by using the entire hotel floor as accommodation to minimize contact with outsiders after the team arrives in Austria and never move to places other than accommodation, training grounds, and stadiums.
However, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 group infection within the squad, the hosting of friendly matches became uncertain.
As the route of infection of the confirmed person is not yet known, there is a high concern about further infection.
The team was inevitable, too.
When Europeans return to their team after a friendly match, they must finish the A-match break and play the league match to resume.
In the case of Cho Hyun-woo's team, Ulsan, also participates in the Asian Football Federation (AFC) Champions League, which will resume in Qatar, starting with Shanghai Shenhua (China) on the 21st.
(Photo = Courtesy of the Korea Football Association, Yonhap News)