Israeli player infected with crown: match against Norway is played as planned – VG

The Israeli squad arrived in Norway yesterday and then also held a training session in Ullevaal. Dabbur is said to have tested positive after joining the Israel team on Monday, but he is said to have not participated in the training.

The player is isolated in Oslo, communications manager Gro Tvedt Anderssen of the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) informs VG.

– We can confirm that a case of contagion has been detected in the Israeli squad. The Oslo municipal chief doctor has been in dialogue with the Israeli national team doctor and the Norwegian Health Directorate. The infected player is now isolated and quarantined with a player they have been in close contact with. The municipal chief has informed the NFF that the match may go as planned according to UEFA protocol, says Anderssen.

Two Israeli players thus lose the international match. Initially, two more players were in danger of being quarantined due to close contact with Dabbur, but both have been infected with the coronavirus and were therefore exempted.

Culture and Gender Equality Minister Abid Raja says he has discussed the matter with the NFF.

– Today I had a dialogue with NFF and I understand that the Israeli players are already in Norway. NFF has been submitted to the health authorities and has received approval for a very comprehensive infection control regime, based on the UEFA infection control protocol “Back to the game protocol”. Now that one of Israel’s players has been infected, the protocol measures are, of course, implemented. The NFF must also comply with Norwegian rules for quarantine of infections. I am confident that the NFF makes accurate evaluations on this basis, Raja tells VG.

At a digital press conference Tuesday night, Israel’s national team manager Willi Ruttensteiner was asked if he thinks the match should have been canceled.

– It’s difficult for me to answer that. I am a coach, not an expert. This is a difficult situation for everyone around the world and we all have problems. We try to make the most of it and take all precautions. Now we have a player who is infected. It’s horrible, and I’m very sad, but we can’t change that. We just have to make the most of it, he says.

Earlier today, Denmark player Robert Skov tested positive. He also plays for German Hoffenheim. According to the club, both Dabbur and Skov tested negative for crown on Friday as they were still with the club’s team.

Several have voiced criticism of the implementation of Wednesday’s match between Norway and Israel. Oslo City Councilor Raymond Johansen has called the fight “indefensible”.

– There is player predation, weak infection control and exposes people to unnecessary dangers when playing more or less important international matches. It seems strange that players are being sent all over the world, and here in the city we are in the middle of a social shutdown. I think it’s incomprehensible, the 59-year-old told VG on Tuesday.

The NFF has defended the choice by referring to UEFA’s infection control protocol.

– UEFA has hosted approximately 500 international matches from August to now. In general, it has gone well, with some cases of infection. We follow a strict infection control protocol and according to this protocol, Israel arrives on a charter flight to Gardermoen. From there they take a bus to the hotel and to and from Ullevaal, where they complete a training session and play the game, Secretary General Pål Bjerketvedt explained today.

Denmark sent Skov home on Tuesday after he was diagnosed with corona. Earlier, both Kasper Schmeichel and Andreas Christensen were unable to attend the meeting in Denmark. British authorities require a 14-day quarantine for people returning from Denmark. The cause is the corona infection that has been discovered among minks.