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A Sporting Kansas City first-team player has tested positive for coronavirus, according to a team release sent Saturday. This is the first Sporting KC player to test positive since the team left the bubble in Orlando for the MLS is Back tournament.
Due to privacy reasons, the name of the player was not disclosed.
Breaking from #SportingKC:
— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) September 12, 2020
"Sporting Kansas City announced today that a first team player has been confirmed positive for COVID-19. All other players and members of the club have returned multiple negative test results and do not have symptoms."
As of Saturday afternoon, there is no change to tomorrow’s match with Minnesota United. However, Sporting KC will be severely shorthanded with a litany of attacking players out.
Pulido, Espinoza, Reid, Hurtado, Salloi and Gutierrez not cleared to play Sunday. #sportingkc
— Thad (@TheBackpost) September 12, 2020
According to the MLS testing protocol, the confirmation of a positive COVID-19 case occurs when a player receives two consecutive positive test results. Upon receiving this confirmation, the player is isolated until medically cleared and monitored by team medical staff daily.
Sporting Kansas City has also implemented contact tracing ahead of tomorrow’s match, per the release.