Covid-19 forces postponement of yet another A-League Men’s match

The A-League has been rocked by Covid-19 and now yet another match, set to be played on Monday evening, has been postponed.

The Phoenix will have to wait a little longer to face the Mariners. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

Monday night’s A-League Men’s clash between the Central Coast Mariners and the Wellington Phoenix has been postponed after Mariners players returned Covid-positive PCR tests.

The A-League confirmed that the fixture would be pushed back until the new year and that the Mariners’ men’s football department would isolate pending the results of further Covid-19 tests.

All members of the squad who tested positive are double-vaccinated.

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Monday’s A-League Women’s clash between the Phoenix and Newcastle Jets will proceed as planned but spectators won’t be permitted to attend.

“Our primary concern is for the health, wellbeing and safety of all players, staff and their families, especially over the Christmas period. All positive cases and those close to them are adhering to relevant state government health directives in close consultation with the A-Leagues,” an A-League spokesperson said in a statement.

“As a result of the number of cases, the A-Leagues have determined that game postponement is necessary to ensure the spread of the virus is limited and the health of our clubs is ensured.

“The A-Leagues’ protocols continue to be effective for screening and subsequent PCR testing in detecting the virus and ensuring immediate isolation.”

All A-League players undergo daily rapid antigen tests and PCR tests every 72 hours. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

The clash between the Mariners and the Phoenix was the fourth round 6 game to be postponed after Covid-19 test results forced Adelaide United v Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar v Melbourne City and Newcastle Jets v Western Sydney Wanderers to be called off.

The Mariners are set to play Macarthur on New Year’s Day, but the A-League will await the results of Covid-19 tests before making a decision on whether that game can proceed.

The A-League aims to confirm new dates for the postponed matches “as soon as possible”.

Originally published as Covid-19 forces postponement of yet another A-League Men’s match