Portsmouth respond to claims players are self-isolating amid coronavirus crisis
Pompey have dismissed talk their players are self-isolating amid the coronavirus crisis.
But the Blues are attempting to create a ‘bubble’ environment in an effort to stop any of the players testing positive for Covid-19.
Chief executive Mark Catlin has played down the suggestion Kenny Jackett’s squad are self-isolating as the pandemic grips the world.
Accrington Stanley released a statement saying that was the case yesterday morning, before later removing it from their website.
Pompey’s players were sent home after coming into contact with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who tested positive for the virus.
The plan is for the players to be tested next week for the virus and, if no one returns a positive reading, return to training.
Catlin explained precautions are being taken by the players, but he doesn’t feel that amounts to self-isolation.
He said: ‘We met with the players and there isn’t any force self-isolation as such.
‘We’ve got something we’ve been working on for a few weeks now where we want to minimise non-essential contact.
‘The more people you come into contact with exponentially there’s a greater chance of either passing the disease on or contracting the disease yourself.
‘We’ve been trying to limit the non-essential contact even before the decision to give the players the weekend off to take the heat out of the situation.
‘We’re making the tunnel a sterile area and almost creating a mini-bubble for our first team.
‘Then hopefully when they go home they need to act accordingly and not go into areas where there’s a lot of people who they could come into contact with.
‘To a degree that will be a little blown away if anyone comes back next week and tests positive.
‘But we are still adhering to those policies.’
Catlin explained Pompey are now putting a stop to all commercial and community events involving players until there is greater clarity over the way forward combatting the virus.
That means school and hospital visits are on the backburner along with attending sponsor engagements.
Catlin added: ‘We’ve been working on limiting the hospital visits, school visits and general commercial visits.
‘It’s things like those areas and sponsors’ evenings which are going to be curtailed until we come out the other side of it.
‘That’s really all we can do.’