Striker Luis Suarez has become the latest football star to test positive for novel coronavirus, informed the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF). As a result, he is set to miss out Uruguay’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Brazil.
Other than Suarez, La Celeste goalkeeper Rodrigo Munoz and a team official were also diagnosed with the virus ahead of Uruguay’s clash with Brazil at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on Tuesday.
“All three are in good health and were isolated and placed in quarantine as soon as the situation was known, complying with established protocols,” the AUF said in a statement, reports Xinhua news agency.
Suarez is the leading scorer in the South American zone qualifiers to date with four goals in three matches.
On Saturday, the AUF had announced that defender Matias Vina had been cut from the Celeste squad after testing positive for the virus.
Uruguay are currently fourth in the 10-team standings with two wins and a loss, three points behind leaders Brazil.
Ever since the outbreak of the deadly virus, several footballers have tested positive for it. Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Nyemar were some of the sport’s most renowned superstars who were diagnosed with COVID-19.
With the increasing number of cases among footballers, many have questioned the need to have international fixtures at this time as it requires players to come out of their clubs’ bio-secure bubble and travel to different countries.