Bratislava forfeits Champions League tie after positive COVID-19 tests

The match was initially scheduled for August 19 but postponed to August 21 after a member of Bratislava's delegation had returned a positive test.

UEFA said its Appeal Committee decided that as the fixture could not be played, Bratislava was “deemed to have lost the match 3-0 (Representative Image)

Slovan Bratislava has forfeited its Champions League first qualifying round tie against Faroe Islands side KI Klaksvik after a player from the Slovakian club tested positive for COVID-19, UEFA said on Monday.

The match was initially scheduled for August 19 but postponed to August 21 after a member of Bratislava's delegation had returned a positive test.

Bratislava was required to provide a list of additional players who had tested negative and were eligible to play.

However, a player from the second group returned two positive test results in consecutive days, forcing the tie to be cancelled.

UEFA said its Appeal Committee decided that as the fixture could not be played, Bratislava was “deemed to have lost the match 3-0.” KI Klaksvik will meet Young Boys in the second qualifying round on Tuesday.

Kosovan side FC Prishtina has also forfeited its Europa League qualifier against Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar after it failed to take the pitch for the Saturday's rescheduled match.

The preliminary round tie was initially scheduled for last Tuesday but was postponed after a number of Prishtina players tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Gibraltar.

Prishtina registered new players from rival clubs in time for Saturday's game but its hopes of qualifying ended when eight players from the reformed squad also tested positive for the virus.

The incidents have further illustrated the difficulties European soccer's governing body UEFA faces as it attempts to play the European qualifiers during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this month, Kosovan side KF Drita's Champions League preliminary round tie against Northern Irish club Linfield was cancelled after two players tested positive