September 21 – The manager of an unheralded Welsh club beaten in the Europa League has stoked health concerns by suggesting his club deliberately ignored signs of Covid-19.
Andy Morrison, manager of Connah’s Quay Nomads, says he “had to turn a blind eye” to players who turned up feeling unwell ahead of their recent qualifying defeat by Georgia’s Dinamo Tbilisi.
The game went ahead despite three Nomads players having tested positive for Covid-19 beforehand. They and a fourth player, who had not had a positive test at that stage, are now in self-isolation.
“Three lads have turned up and they’re not well,” said Morrison. “And it’s like ‘lads, I don’t want to hear it. I can’t hear it tonight that you’re ill… let’s just get through it’.
“I’ve been told that before the game and we’ve had to turn a blind eye to it and then you would have never noticed that anyone there tonight wasn’t feeling great.”
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) insists it was satisfied the required protocols were followed but is now is investigating whether a breach took place and whether Morrison brought Welsh football into disrepute.
“The FAW is satisfied that the comments contradict the confirmed compliance with the Covid-19 protocols and whilst the club may decide to take internal actions, the FAW is currently investigating whether a breach of the guidelines has taken place and whether the comments constitute a breach of FAW Rules for bringing the association into disrepute,” the FAW said.
In a separate statement, Connah’s Quay categorically denied “turning a blind eye” to coronavirus regulations and said Morrison’s comments had been “misconstrued”.
“In a post-match interview with various media outlets, manager Andy Morrison used the term ‘turned a blind eye’ which has unfortunately been misconstrued by many to mean that as a club we ignored Covid regulations,” the club said.
“We would like to go on record and say that this is categorically untrue and that what the manager was referring to was a number of players who may not have played had we had a fully fit squad.
“Morrison clarified this in a tweet on his own personal Twitter account, indicating that a number of players had suffered from isolated pre-match upset stomach and headaches likely down to nerves due to being thrust into the starting line-up.”
UEFA’s rules state that “anyone involved in a match who develops any symptoms indicative of a potential Covid-19 infection must immediately isolate themselves at their hotel and must contact the relevant local health authorities for guidance.”
Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford agreed the incident required further investigation.
“We’ve been in contact with the FAW this morning. They are going to investigate, they’re going to establish the facts,” he said.
“I’ve seen the additional statement put out by Connah’s Quay today correcting, as they would see it, an impression that was given overnight. Nevertheless, I think it’s important that the facts are established.”
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