German football player tests positive for coronavirus

By Emre Asikci

ANKARA (AA) - German football player Timo Hubers has been tested positive for the coronavirus, his club Hannover 96 announced on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Bundesliga second division team said the 23-year-old defender is currently under quarantine at home.

“It is assumed that Hubers got infected at an event in Hildesheim on Saturday evening. Since he has had no contact with his teammates since the infection, which can be precisely localized, it cannot be assumed that his teammates have also been infected,” read the statement published on the club website.

The club said it was taking all necessary precautions and all players, trainers, and other staff members have been tested for the virus.

Gerhard Zuber, sporting director of Hannover 96, said Hubers had not developed any symptoms but “reported directly to the doctor and went into quarantine at home” after finding out that a person at the event in Hildesheim had tested positive for the virus.

The club added that all players are continuing preparations for their next game on Sunday.

Several football fixtures have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak in Germany, where there are currently over 1,200 confirmed cases.

Several Bundesliga matches over the weekend will be played behind closed doors; Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Monchengladbach, Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim vs Hertha Berlin, and Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke.

Bayern Munich’s Champions League fixture against Chelsea on March 18 will also be played in an empty stadium.