Besiktas player, staff member test positive for coronavirus

Turkey's domestic leagues set to resume without fans on June 12

File photo of Galatasaray's Florin Andone, right, against Besiktas' Domagoj Vida during the Turkish Super League match in Istanbul in March. Image for representation. EPA

One Besiktas player and a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus three days after it was announced that the Turkish league will resume next month, the club said on Saturday.

League leaders Trabzonspor, champions Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas are among the clubs which held training sessions this week in small groups in line with guidelines set by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).

Besiktas said all their players and coaching staff had been tested, adding that the player and staff member who tested positive had started their treatment.

Fenerbahce said on Friday one of their staff members had tested positive for the virus, forcing the club to cancel a scheduled practice session.

Turkey's domestic leagues will resume without fans on June 12 after a three-month suspension and TFF chairman Nihat Ozdemir said on Wednesday the country is planning to host the Champions League final in late August.

Turkey announced on Monday that it will start to gradually ease lockdown measures after the virus outbreak had plateaued.