LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (WTVF) — Nine Nashville SC players have tested positive for COVID-19 in Orlando, and as a result Nashville SC has been withdrawn from the MLS is Back Tournament. Nashville SC is the second team, following FC Dallas, to leave the competition due to positive COVID-19 tests. According to a release from the club, one player tested positive for COVID when the team arrived in Orlando on July 1st. Eight other players tested positive a few days later.
“We have withdrawn Nashville SC from the MLS is Back Tournament. Due to the number of positive tests, the club has been unable to train since arriving in Orlando and would not be able to play matches,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “For every decision we make in our return to play, the well being of our players, staff, officials and all participants is our top priority."
The MLS and MLSPA have themselves to blame for this rocky start in Orlando. The original plan called for a 14-day quarantine until Orlando before games began, players pushed for it to be dropped to seven. Teams ended up showing up even later than that. @NC5
— Steve Layman (@SteveLayman) July 9, 2020
“In what has been a challenging year, and in an uncharted environment created by the Tornado that devastated our city, and COVID-19, this is another big disappointing outcome for Nashville SC and its supporters,” Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre said in a statement. “Our focus now lays on the recovery of our players who have been infected with COVID-19 and on getting our complete traveling party back home safely. Once everyone is safe and healthy in Nashville, we can then turn the page and focus on our preparation and participation in the return to play for the latter half of the season post Orlando.”
Nashville SC hasn't played a match in their inaugural season since a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on March 8th. They were originally scheduled to play Chicago Fire FC last night in the MLS is back tournament, but that match was initially suspended.
