MLS tournament in disarray, FC Dallas withdraws team after 10 players test positive
Major League Soccer has withdrawn the team FC Dallas from its season-starting tournament in Orlando after 10 players and a coach tested…
Last week, it was announced that six FC Dallas players had tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Orlando, Florida. However, a total of 10 FC Dallas players and one coach have tested positive since the delegation arrived in Orlando, forcing the team out.
“The decision to have them not participate in the tournament is in the best interests of everyone, of the Dallas players and the other 25 teams, and allows us to continue to manage the health and safety of our players while continuing to go forward with our plan,” MLS commissioner Don Garber told the Associated Press.
FC Dallas said it concurred with the league ruling, and is now preparing to resume competition later in the year following the tournament.
“We absolutely agree with the league’s decision to withdraw FC Dallas from the MLS is Back Tournament out of safety concerns for our players and staff,” said FC Dallas president Dan Hunt. “We’re looking forward to resuming the 2020 season once the entire club is healthy and in position to play competitive matches at the highest level.”
FC Dallas was drawn into Group B with the Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, and San Jose Earthquakes. Two of the teams were set to advance to the knockout rounds.
“The removal of FC Dallas from competition in Orlando is a reminder of how difficult the circumstances involving returning to work remains across all sports amidst this pandemic,” said the MLS Players Association. “The players and staff from FC Dallas worked incredibly hard over the last few months to be ready to take the field, but removing the team from the competition is both responsible and necessary.”
As MLS puts together a revised schedule, Garber says he is willing to shut down the tournament if need be.
“If there is a situation at any time that I believe that the protocols aren’t working, and the health and safety of our players is at risk, then I will make the decision to shut down the tournament,” Garber told AP. “That is something I committed to the players and to our entire league early on. But this is proving that our protocols worked and our plan so far has been sound.”
