Scotland’s Nations League match in Czech Republic to go ahead despite coronavirus outbreak in hosts’ squad

Czech FA previously announced that the game had been cancelled

West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek was one of two Czech players told to self-isolate (AFP via Getty Images)

Uefa have said Scotland’s Nations League match in the Czech Republic will take place as planned on Monday despite an earlier announcement by the Czech FA that the game had been cancelled due to a coronavirus outbreak in the home squad.

Steve Clarke’s squad will train in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon before making the trip to Olomouc on Sunday, having opened their Nations League campaign with a 1-1 draw at home against Israel on Friday evening.

Ahead of the Czech Republic’s 3-1 win over Slovakia that same night, West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and RB Leipzig striker Patrik Schick were ordered to self-isolate following contact with a member of backroom staff who tested positive for Covid-19.

The Czech FA delayed the team’s departure for Bratislava by 24 hours as the squad was retested and players split into small groups to make the 200-mile journey by road.

After the game, the Czech FA announced that the team would not play against Scotland “due to representatives’ decision and the current situation with Covid-19”.

The statement continued: “The national team ends current preparations with immediate effect straight after the win against Slovakia.”

Uefa last week clarified principles for situations in which coronavirus impacts fixtures, saying that a game will take place as long as a team has at least 13 players available – including a goalkeeper.