Man City vs Arsenal OFF due to coronavirus fears after ‘number of players’ met Olympiacos owner after Europa League tie

Manchester City's Premier League home game against Arsenal has been postponed as a precautionary measure during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Premier League has decided the fixture must not go ahead on Wednesday due to a number of Gunners players and staff on February 27 coming in contact with Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who on Tuesday confirmed he has contracted Covid-19.

The virus has infected well over 100,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3,000. Greece has several dozen cases but no fatality so far.

Since Arsenal's loss to Olympiacos, the club have travelled to face Portsmouth in the FA Cup and, on Saturday, welcomed West Ham to the Emirates Stadium.

Postponed: Unnamed Arsenal players and staff will now enter self-isolation
Getty Images

Those unnamed Arsenal players, and staff members, must now serve the remainder of the advised 14-day self-isolation period, with the game at the Etihad coming within that time frame. Those at risk are expected back at Arsenal on Friday, March 13.

A statement from Arsenal read: "Following news that Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis has recently contracted Covid-19, we have been taking medical advice and tracing any individuals who had what the guidelines define as close contact with him at the game 13 days ago.

"As a result of this exercise we identified that a number of players met the Olympiacos owner immediately following the game.

"The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing Covid-19 at extremely low. However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact."

Details on a second new date for the game, which was first postponed because City reached the Carabao Cup final, will follow "in the coming days."

Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis
REUTERS

Marinakis, who also owns Nottingham Forest, revealed his positive diagnosis via Instagram on Tuesday.

He wrote: “The recent virus has ‘visited’ me and I felt obliged to let the public know.

“I feel good as I take all the necessary measures and I discipline to the doctor’s instructions. I strongly advice all my fellow citizens to do the same. I wish all a quick recovery.”

Nottingham Forest played Millwall in the Championship on Friday night and Marinakis was at the City Ground for the game. Forest said Marinakis showed no symptoms over the weekend, with first signs noticeable once he had returned home to Greece.

Wolves are still due to face Olympiacos in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday having made an successful attempt to have the tie postponed following Marinakis's admission.

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