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Napoli did not show up for their Serie A clash against Juventus on Sunday after a coronavirus dispute that involved both clubs and health and soccer authorities.
Gennaro Gattuso’s team was not present at Juve’s Allianz Stadium for the kick-off at 7:45 p.m.
They were isolated on instructions from the regional health authorities of the Campania region, which is home to the city of Naples, after midfielders Eljif Elmas and Piotr Zielinski tested positive during the week.
Napoli, who had won both of their Serie A games so far this season, is at risk of losing the match 3-0.
Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who recovered from the coronavirus last month, said he believes it is “too dangerous” to travel to Turin, and called on Sunday night for the match to be postponed “without further delay.”
Serie A insisted that all health protocols were in place for the match to proceed safely as scheduled in Turin.
“The protocol provides … rules, which allow playing league matches even in the case of positive tests, aligning players who tested negative,” the league said in a statement.
He added that these measures are “applicable to the situation of Napoli, which has two positive players for Covid-19.”
Napoli is the first team in the five major European leagues not to take to the pitch due to the coronavirus pandemic in a match that was scheduled.
The club, for its part, moved to deny reports that coach Gennaro Gattuso had tested positive.
“The news about Mr. Gattuso’s positivity for Covid-19 is unfounded,” the club said on Twitter.
“The team group will do the next swabs tomorrow (Monday).”
The Juventus players arrived at the stadium an hour before kick-off.
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