By Philippe Rifflet
Published on
AS Saint-Etienne decimated by the coronavirus epidemic, would now count nine players in the squad positive at Covid-19. Two new cases were detected this Saturday, January 16, 2021. De facto compromising the holding of Strasbourg-Saint-Etienne match scheduled tomorrow Sunday.
Severe threat to the trip to Strasbourg
The regulations of the Professional Football League (LFP) provide that a club is forfeited if more than ten players out of the thirty on the scoresheet officially submitted to the Professional Football League are declared positive for Covid-19.
Two more, and ASSE will no longer be able to play their next games. The club are due to play one of the most important games of the season against Lyon on Sunday 24 January for the derby.
The epidemic appears to be spreading fairly quickly since the day before, Friday January 15, only seven players tested positive.
⚠️ The PCR tests carried out last Tuesday and Thursday revealed numerous positive cases for Covid-19 among the players and members of the staff of the pro group.
New exams will be carried out this Saturday to confirm the maintenance of the match #RCSAASSE.
Read the full press release 👇
– AS Saint-Étienne (@ASSEofficiel) January 15, 2021
Debuchy and Hamouma would be positive
Among the players affected, the local television station TL7 gives the names of the captain Mathieu Debuchy, of Romain Hamouma, Charles Abi, Denis Bouanga, Timothy Kolodziejczak, Zaydou Youssouf and Etienne Green, the third guardian.
Since this morning there have been 9 positive cases#ASSE. 2 new cases: an attacker and a central defender are concerned.
Two more positive cases and the meeting will be canceled.
For their health, we do not wish to be ill again, even if sporting things it will get complicated! #RCSASSE– Peuple-Vert.fr © (@peuplevert) January 16, 2021
Eight members of staff also detected positive
Still according to TL7, eight staff members ASSE are also reportedly affected, for a total of 17 people.
Coach’s press conference Claude Puel and the offensive midfielder Ryad Boudebouz scheduled for January 15 to discuss the trip to Strasbourg on Sunday January 17 has been canceled. The match is expected to stand unless new cases are reported on the 17th.
#Cluster to the#ASSE !
15 positive cases #Covid in the pro group.
This weekend’s trip to #Strasbourg is threatened… pic.twitter.com/7CHLA0uC10– TL7 (@ tl7loire) January 15, 2021
ASSE, for its part, is stingy with information. The club issued a statement on January 16 which simply confirmed “many positive cases for COVID-19 among players and staff members of the professional group”.