Off the Pitch

Spain-based China international Wu Lei has confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus but says he is on his way to making a full recovery.

The Chinese Football Association announced on Saturday that Wu, who plays for Espanyol in LaLiga, had contracted the coronavirus and the 28-year-old confirmed he is now self-isolating.

Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic is back home in Serbia while the soccer world remains on hiatus to combat the spread of coronavirus. The Serbian president, however, isn’t too happy with the 22-year-old. 

Real Madrid has been on lock down since one of its basketball players, former Georgia Bulldog Trey Thompkins, tested positive for coronavirus. All players and staff were asked to self-isolate and LaLiga suspended play completely. 

Liga MX was one of the last leagues in the world to suspend play due to the coronavirus pandemic. The league told fans to have fun and be safe while hosting matches the weekend of March 14. While this meant unprecedented visibility around the globe for Mexico’s top flight, this week it’s being seen how foolish this endeavor may have been.

On Tuesday, Alberto Marrero, the president of Atletico San Luis, tested positive for coronavirus

LONDON — Manchester United and Manchester City are the latest Premier League clubs to spring into action to help their communities during the coronavirus pandemic, joining forces to donate 100,000 pounds ($117,000) to support local food banks.

Responding to an initiative already run by fans of both clubs, City and United will donate 50,000 pounds each to the Trussell Trust, a support network of more than 1,200 food banks.

LONDON — England manager Gareth Southgate said he will be "prouder than ever" to lead his side into next year's European championship once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided but has called on fans to support the real heroes during the crisis.

Southgate was expecting to meet up with his squad this weekend to prepare for internationals against Italy and Denmark at Wembley, key fixtures in preparation for Euro 2020.

ROME — The President of the Italian Players’ Union (AIC) believes it would be nonsensical and dangerous for soccer teams to resume training next week as Italy battles with a devastating coronavirus outbreak.

All sport has been suspended since March 9 and a nationwide lockdown enforced, as the country attempts to stem the spread of a virus that has now killed 4,032 people, more than any other nation.

MADRID — LaLiga side Real Valladolid has formally rejected the Spanish league’s offer of coronavirus test kits for their players on ethical and medical grounds, the club said on Wednesday.

“La Liga offered them to us (the tests), but we have not taken them for medical and social reasons,” club spokesman David Espinar said in a statement. “No player has presented any symptoms and we believe that there are people out there who are much less well off than we are who need them far more than we do. It is those (people) who should have priority.”