Perth Glory won’t play again until January after a member of their A-League Men squad tested positive to COVID-19.
Glory became the latest club to be hit with a COVID-positive result on Thursday, following on from the Newcastle Jets, Western United and Sydney FC.
But while all other games will go ahead this week, Saturday’s clash between Glory and Brisbane in Queensland has been postponed.
Perth’s match against the Reds in Adelaide next week has also been postponed.
It means Glory won’t be in action again until January 2, when they are scheduled to take on Sydney FC in Sydney.
A new date for the postponed matches will be set later as Glory’s squad remains locked up in their hotel in Brisbane.
The club will be keen to get the squad back to Perth in time for Christmas, but that will depend on receiving clearance from both the Queensland and West Australian governments.
If other members of the playing squad test positive, it would complicate matters even further.
All members of the Glory squad tested negative when they left Adelaide earlier this week, but an unnamed player tested positive shortly after arriving in Brisbane and was informed of the result on Wednesday night.
Glory owner Tony Sage says the club is investigating how the player contracted the virus.
“We were in Adelaide for a period of time,” Sage told Perth radio station 6PR.
“The players were kept segregated in the hotel, we were able to train.
“It’s very difficult to find. Unless it came from one of the employees at the hotel or someone who ate at the hotel.
“We are investigating because we need to know for close contacts and who else in the squad is vulnerable.”
Glory have been on the road for all but their season-opener due to Western Australia’s hard border.
Captain Brandon O’Neill only flew in to Queensland on Wednesday night after the birth of his child in Perth.
He is now stuck in Queensland along with the rest of the player squad.
“They are distraught,” Sage said.
“They saw light at the end of the tunnel and that light now has just turned off.”
Western United coach John Aloisi confirmed one of his players tested positive to COVID-19 earlier this week, but at this stage Friday’s clash with Adelaide United at AAMI Park is going ahead.
“We haven’t had any more cases as of yet and we’ll do all the testing,” Aloisi said.
“We do our rapid tests every day and we’ll do PCR tests today, and we’re ready to play tomorrow.”
The COVID-positive player – whose identity is being kept private – is isolating away from the club and is not displaying major symptoms.
The majority of the squad have been able to train as normal in the build-up to the Adelaide clash.
But United have told players to avoid unnecessary ventures out in public, in order to reduce possible exposure to the virus.
“We’re in constant contact with the APL to make sure that we’re across all the protocols but we’re also making sure that the players understand that it’s going to training and straight home, and not visiting any sites – cafes, restaurants or whatever,” Aloisi said.
At work
Roar Rookie
Big time, I'd be regretting my decision if I was Sturridge too, what a ridiculous situation he finds himself in.
Ascot
Roar Rookie
You've got to feel sorry for the Glory. It was never going to be easy for them this season. Let's hope the Queensland and WA Government's, allow them to get back to Perth in time for Christmas.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
VEry exciting finish in current womens game: WSW 1 Jets 1 final whistle
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
It's Queensland's restrictictions that are the issue in this case. W.A. has less restrictions than anywhere, no social distancing, no masks, life is just normal. There are strict border restrictions, which have been basically the same as every state other than NSW and Victoria. The only real difference with W.A. is letting COVID in after Christmas, rather than before, and less special treatment for sports teams. Taking W.A.'s border restrictions so personally is probably due to media beat up. The reality is, the A-League forced a team to leave a COVID-free place to keep the season going, which goes against reason, and now it's blown up in their face because someone is sick. The NSW-centric league has made a huge mistake and i hope it's not a fatal one.
Bazza
Guest
Perth should be forced to sit out of the A League this season- their State Government’s conduct and restrictions are just incompatible with the rest of the Nation of Australia. I imagine Daniel Sturridge is seriously regretting joining Perth. This will be his second period of 14 day quarantine in a hotel in two months! He wasn’t happy with the first and seemed shocked that he was being compelled to do it. He should have done some research on Western Australia’s State Government before he signed the contract though but I still have sympathy for him.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
So are the players even going to be able to train?
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
I have just logged in to P+ on my computer and can see that this improved functionality is merely how the web browser version currently displays. What this means is they need to update the Chromecast and mobile app versions (and possibly Apple TV too) to match as the computer version is much better. And who accesses P+ from a computer anyway? A percentage of users no doubt but the bulk access it from their phone so this needs to be improved.
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
The AFL would bring teams over and they'd do their 14 days but they could play in that time. So two teams could come over, play a couple games, then go home again. I don't know if the rules have changed however, and A-League may not get the same allowances that the AFL gets.
Jordan Sports Fan
Roar Rookie
Off topic but for those interested in the evolution of P+ (like me), it would appear that we can get a glimpse into a future design by watching the 30 second “Match Day Explainer” video under Match Replays in P+. This shows a design much more akin to Optus Sport or Stan. Live matches, replays on separate rows on the one screen. Sport has a heading along the top of the platform for quick access. It looks much better. If this is rolled out, the next step would be to aggregate ALM, ALW, Socceroos, Matildas et al. into one aggregated screen. There is no reason for these to be separate. But good that progress appears to be occurring. In Match Day Explainer video we trust. #currentdesignOUT
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
They'd need to do 14 days quarantine, so effectively, everyone would have to stay in Perth to finish the season.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Thanks to The Glory team and owners for trying to keep the A League season going as normally as possible. This is such a shame for the players. If they could have made it through to the end of January, when their borders open it would have been brilliant. They would have then had a great run of home games with good support. Contracting Covid is now a possibility for anyone, so unfortunately, there will be more disruptions and that is our new normal!
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
It's how the world is now i suppose. With hindsight it looks like a bad call making Glory play on the road while Perth is free from COVID. I can't see how they can be made to base themselves in NSW for the new year with the outbreak the way that it is. Surely it doesn't meet OHS standards. Maybe it's time for the NSW and Melbourne teams to hit the road and play some games in Perth.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Clown world.
Tigertown
Guest
The complex issue is, every state & territory have different guidelines, some, that conflict with others. I do very much feel for Perth Glory.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
Feel for the players, can Glory just pull out for the season haha
Waz
Roar Rookie
Roar/Perth have been royally screwed by COVID this season