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Switzerland v Ukraine cancelled due to numerous COVID-19 cases

The UEFA Nations League meeting of Switzerland and Ukraine has been cancelled.  The League A Gro...
Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

16.31 17 Nov 2020


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Switzerland v Ukraine cancelle...

Switzerland v Ukraine cancelled due to numerous COVID-19 cases

Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

16.31 17 Nov 2020


Share this article


The UEFA Nations League meeting of Switzerland and Ukraine has been cancelled. 

The League A Group 4 game was due to be played in Lucerne.

Swiss authorities have ordered the entire Ukraine squad to isolate following a number of positive COVID-19 cases in their camp.

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Three Ukraine players - Eduard Sobol, Yevhen Makarenko and Dmytro Riznyk - tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.

All tests of Swiss players returned negative.

Ukraine needed a win in Lucerne to avoid relegation to League B, and they've been very careful in their wording regarding the game's cancellation.

Spokesperson Oleksandr Hlyvynskyi said that they, the Swiss FA and UEFA are prepared to play the game but the local authorities' decision means the fixture can't be fulfilled.

They're keen to avoid an automatic 3-0 defeat for forfeiting the game that would see them drop down a Nations League division.

However, they do not have enough players to play the game with Switzerland either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

UEFA say, "The matter will now be submitted to the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body, for a decision to be taken in accordance with the special rules applicable to UEFA National Team competition matches."

It's just the second Nations League game to be called off due to COVID-19.

Ukraine FA statement: 

UEFA informed the Ukrainian Football Association that "due to the competent decision of the Department of Health of the Canton of Lucerne to quarantine the entire delegation of the national team of Ukraine, the UEFA League of Nations match Switzerland - Ukraine can not take place."

Note that UEFA, UAF and the Swiss Football Association are ready for the match, but the ban on local authorities cancels all hopes of football organisations to hold the game.

The decision on the future of the match will be made by UEFA.

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Nations League Switzerland UEFA Uefa Nations League Ukraine

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