FLAMENGO coach Jorge Jesus has tested positive for coronavirus aged 65 but insists he has no symptoms of the deadly COVID-19 bug.
Brazil’s top flight – as well as the rest of the European football leagues – have postponed all games as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep the globe with over 7,000 deaths worldwide.
Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus has tested positive for coronavirus aged 65Credit: Getty
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And Brazilian giants Flamengo confirmed manager Jesus has tested positive for the bug after vice-president Mauricio Gomes de Mattos contracted coronavirus.
A club statement said: “Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that the tests to detect the presence of Covid-19 in athletes, coaching staff and employees of the football department were concluded this Monday afternoon (16).
“The club reports that coach Jorge Jesus performed a first test for Covid-19 and the result was a weak or inconclusive positive. The result is being checked.
“The coach is under the care of Flamengo’s medical department and is presently stable. The board reiterates its commitment to health and safety during the Coronavirus pandemic and has suspended all training for the first team and youth teams for at least a week.
“Athletes, members of the football department and coaching staff tested negative for Covid-19. It is worth mentioning that the football department will follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health during the Coronavirus pandemic.”
The Brazilian FA only decided to suspend games on Monday, much to the frustration of Gremio players who wore face masks in an on-field protest before their game against Sao Luiz at the weekend.
Flemengo boss Jesus even led the calls to have games cancelled.
It comes as Spanish coach Francisco Garcia died from coronavirus aged just 21.
Garcia had worked with Malaga-based Atletico Portada Alta since 2016, managing their junior side but was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia after being taken to hospital with severe coronavirus symptoms.
Garcia was the fifth victim of the pandemic in the Malaga region, but by far the youngest – with the others in their 70s or 80s.
After arriving at hospital, medics found the Spanish coach to be suffering from leukaemia.
The pre-existing condition affected his ability to fight off the virus, with local health authorities claiming he would have otherwise recovered.
It’s thought Garcia could be the youngest person in the world to die as a result of coronavirus – although a baby in the UK tragically contracted the disease last week.
Francisco Garcia died aged 21 after contracting coronavirus
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
