Premier League to hold emergency coronavirus meeting after Mikel Arteta tests positive for Covid-19

Emergency: Premier League season thrown into chaos
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Joe Krishnan12 March 2020

The Premier League have scheduled an emergency club meeting for Friday morning following the news that Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for the coronavirus .

The announcement comes less than an hour after the Premier League had confirmed league fixtures on the weekend commencing March 13 would "go ahead as scheduled".

The League's statement was released at 9.31pm on Thursday evening amid growing calls for clarification as to whether fixtures would go ahead, following the cancellation of several sporting events across the world including both LaLiga and Serie A schedules due to the coronavirus.

However, just 46 minutes later, Arsenal confirmed that Arteta had tested positive for Covid-19, forcing them to close their London Colney Training Centre.

A statement read: "In light of Arsenal’s announcement tonight confirming that their first team coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19, the Premier League will convene an emergency club meeting tomorrow morning regarding future fixtures."

The Premier League had initially revealed on Thursday that matches would go ahead as planned in a statement, which read: "Following the latest update from Government issued this afternoon, all Premier League matches will go ahead as scheduled this weekend.

"While the Prime Minister advised that all sporting events should take place as normal for now, he also indicated that Government is considering banning major public events, like sporting fixtures.

"We are therefore continuing to work closely with our clubs, Government, The FA, EFL and other relevant stakeholders to ensure appropriate contingency plans are in place as and when circumstances change.

"The welfare of players, staff and supporters is of paramount importance and we will continue to follow Public Health England guidelines thoroughly.

"We will keep everyone updated as appropriate."

But following Arsenal's confirmation that Arteta has been affected by Covid-19, there will now be a meeting to decide if they will go ahead or if they will follow other major leagues - including the Serie A and LaLiga - in suspending domestic fixtures.

Manchester City have also been affected by the outbreak, announcing that an unnamed player is in self-isolation after a family member was admitted to hospital after suffering symptoms of “a respiratory illness."

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