FC Dallas withdraws from MLS tournament because of 10 positive tests
FC Dallas is forced to withdraw from the MLS reopening tournament after 10 players test positive for COVID-19.
Major League Soccer suffered a setback Monday with the announcement that FC Dallas has been forced to withdraw from its reopening tournament that begins this week after 10 of its players tested positive for COVID-19.
Dallas’s three Group F games were postponed, including one against the San Jose Earthquakes on July 20. Dallas was scheduled to open the event Thursday against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Earthquakes are scheduled to open group play Friday against defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC. The league statement did not address any schedule changes to ensure Group B teams get to play three games.
The league announcement also said one member of Dallas’ technical staff tested positive.
The positive tests occurred upon Dallas’ arrival or within a few days of its arrival to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, the news release said. The Quakes were the first of the 26 MLS teams to arrive at the facility two weeks ago.
Veteran San Jose player Shea Salinas said Monday that no one from the Earthquakes has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
“Given the impact of the number of positive tests on the club’s ability to train and play competitive matches, we have made the decision to withdraw FC Dallas from the MLS is Back Tournament,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a prepared statement. “The health of everyone involved in our return to play has always been our top priority, and we will continue to make decisions consistent with that priority.”
The league statement said of the 557 players currently in Orlando 13 players have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. The announcement said the remaining three players were from two other clubs, which MLS did not identify.
The Athletic reported Sunday that Nashville SC had five positive tests since arriving in Florida. The report cited unidentified sources.
The Colorado Rapids on Sunday announced the team had delayed its departure to Orlando after learning two members of its traveling party had presumptive positive tests for COVID-19.
“I expected guys to come in and test positive,” said Salinas, one of the Earthquakes team leaders. “But the Dallas and Nashville thing came as a shock.”
The tournament is scheduled to end Aug. 11 with the three group games counting as part of the regular season standings. League officials have not released a schedule for the resumption of the rest of the season as they continue to monitor the pandemic.