Japan defender Gotoku Sakai has tested positive for coronavirus, his club Vissel Kobe confirmed on Monday, becoming the first J.League player to be named as having the virus.<\/p>\n
Sakai, who has 42 caps for Japan, first reported having a fever on Wednesday and was diagnosed with acute upper respiratory infection in a hospital the following day. His positive test for coronavirus was confirmed on Monday, the club said.<\/p>\n
Kobe said no other player in the squad, which includes Spanish World Cup winner Andres Iniesta, had shown any symptoms.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently, there is no other player or staff member giving symptoms of the new coronavirus infectious disease other than Gotoku Sakai,\u201d the club said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn correspondence with the instructions of the public health centre, we are looking at identifying those in close contact and the complete sterilization of the “Ibuki” training facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old defender joined Kobe from German side Hamburg last season.<\/p>\n
Like most major sporting competitions across the world, the J.League has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak with the last match being played in late February.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"