TheCable

The English Premier League (EPL) has confirmed that it received six positive cases of COVID-19 from three clubs after the first phase of mass testing on 748 players and staff.

The mass testing was conducted as preparations for “project restart” intensify ahead of a scheduled next month resumption of the current season.

In a statement on Tuesday, the EPL said those that tested positive will be in self isolation for seven days and cannot visit the training ground.

While the cases came from a total of three teams, the league refused to identify the individuals who tested positive in the statement.

“The Premier League can today confirm that, on Sunday 17 May and Monday 18 May, 748 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19,” the statement read.

“Of these, six have tested positive from three clubs. Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.

“The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and oversight.

“No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the Premier League due to legal and operational requirements.”

The EPL has been suspended since March due to the COVID-19 crisis, with the English top-flight getting set to resume football activities in June.

Germany’s Bundesliga became the first major European league to return to action last Saturday.