The Swiss and Liverpool’s midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has tested positive for coronavirus according to a result released in the early hours of Tuesday, the 6th October. Shaqiri’s case was confirmed in Switzerland while in preparation for his national friendly match against Croatia on Wednesday and also the UEFA Nations League fixtures.

The Swiss Football Association made this known in a statement as follows:
“Xherdan Shaqiri has tested positive for COVID-19. In consultation with the health authorities, he is in isolation. The strict protective measures and requirements of UEFA for national teams in accordance with the ‘UEFA Return to Play Protocol’ have been strictly adhered to. Based on this, clarifications are currently underway with the local health authorities about how to proceed.”

The announcement of the 28-year-old coronavirus case makes him the third Liverpool player to have tested positive to the disease aside from Thiago Alcantara and Sadio Mane. The player has now been placed in self-isolation to ensure his treatment and prevention of the further spread of the disease. Therefore, he would no longer be able to play for Switzerland in the international fixtures.

It should be recalled that Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp had previously stated his worry concerning the release of his players for international matches during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said in the statement: “I don’t want to sound disrespectful about how other countries are doing it but this is the place that we know and we know how we are dealing with it. So, I am slightly concerned because it is difficult to be in contact with all FAs all over the world.

“I understand it, I really understand how difficult the situation is but it’s not exactly perfect, the information we get from certain FAs.”