The AFL has told clubs that its top priority is the health and safety of “all our people and supporters” as the coronavirus stalks the competition.
A memo recently sent by the league to all clubs says it is “business as usual” as it takes advice from the government and medical authorities.
But that advice could become far more serious after a Fremantle player was yesterday sent for tests amid concerns he might have been exposed to COVID-19.
The Dockers last night released a statement saying the unnamed player had undergone precautionary tests having complained of flu-like symptoms after being in contact with a friend who had returned from China.
The club said the player’s friend underwent a 14-day isolation period after arriving back in Australia and had not felt unwell during or after that time before visiting the player.
“The player reported to club medical staff today that he was suffering flu-like symptoms and, as a precautionary measure and despite the fact that the friend had reported no flu-like symptoms, the player was immediately sent for testing and isolated,” the Fremantle statement read.
“The test results are expected to take 24-48 hours.”
It comes after leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins said a single positive diagnosis by an AFL player for coronavirus could be enough to derail the season given teammates and staff would also need to be quarantined for the mandated 14 days.
“If one single AFL player contracts COVID-19 infection the entire 2020 season will be compromised,” Larkins tweeted.
“The AFL must be discussing all scenarios right now.”
The AFL has formed a 10-person coronavirus working group that includes its chief medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt.
The league will today brief club presidents and CEO’s on its position as part of its regular pre-season meeting.
In its letter to clubs, the AFL said: “The advice from the Government is that it is business as usual and that includes people attending major events or sporting matches”.
The memo finishes with: “remember to always wash your hands”.
The AFL’s head of compliance and risk, Simon Clarke is about to send a more detailed brief to clubs.
Club chiefs are hopeful, rather than confident, that the season will not be uninterrupted.
The most likely option for the AFL if the Australian outbreak worsens would be the staging of matches in empty stadiums.
Sporting events across the world continue to be affected by the spread of the virus.
Italy’s Olympic committee has suspended all sports at all levels, with more than 7000 confirmed cases and more than 450 deaths in the country.
The Indian Wells tennis tournament has been cancelled in California, this week’s Champions League clash between Paris St Germain and Borussia Dortmund will be held behind closed doors and the Bahrain Grand Prix will take place without spectators.
Ligue 1, France’s top flight soccer competition, has capped crowds at 1000 in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus.
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