Arsenal announced the postponement of its match with its host Manchester City, which was scheduled at 11:30 pm today, Wednesday, Emirates time, within the Premier League competitions, after putting a number of its players in the home quarantine against the background of their friction with the owner of the Greek Olympiacos club who announced Tuesday he was infected with the emerging corona virus.
This became the first game in the Premier League affected by the spread of the "Covid-19" virus, which prompted the postponement of many sporting events around the world or the establishment of competitions without an audience.
The London club said that players and four employees are subject to home stone after contact with Olympiacos owner Vangelis Marinakis on the sidelines of the two teams in the European League "Europa League" in late February.
"We are following the instructions of the government that recommends that every person who approaches a person infected with the virus be quarantined for a period of 14 days since their last meeting," the Arsenal statement said.
"As a result, the players are not available for tonight's (Wednesday) match against Manchester City, and the English Premier League has decided to postpone the match."
Arsenal bid farewell to the 32nd round of the "Europa League" competition on February 27, losing at home to Olympiacos 1-2, after winning 1-0 in the first leg.
Marinakis, owner of Olympiacos and the English club Nottingham Forest, announced on Tuesday that he had contracted the emerging Coronavirus, stressing that he was taking "all necessary measures" and "feeling well."
Arsenal said that the players and employees who met Marinakis after the match at Emirates Stadium in London, will resume work and exercises on Friday before Saturday's trip to Brighton.
"The medical advice we received indicates that the risk of developing Covid-19 is very low," Arsenal said in his statement.
The English Premier League has postponed this match in a "precautionary" framework, noting at the present time not to plan to postpone other games.
The postponed match of the twenty-eighth stage was scheduled for February 29, but was postponed because Manchester City was busy with the final of the League Cup, which won its title at the expense of Aston Villa (2-1).