Two South Korean sides who recently played Asian Champions League group-stage matches in Uzbekistan are among a wave of coronavirus infections prompting the postponement of several upcoming K League games, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported Friday.
Four K League clubs have reported a total of 18 positive cases so far, according to Yonhap, with ACL contestants Daegu FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors having a player and a coach diagnosed with COVID-19 after returning from Tashkent. Non-ACL side Seongnam FC has recorded the most cases, with 15.
The report comes a day after the J-League announced six positive cases among Japanese clubs returning from the ACL eastern zone group matches in Uzbekistan.
Two players and two staff from Gamba Osaka have tested positive since returning, while two staff from Kawasaki Frontale have also been infected.
Both Japanese clubs flew home Monday on private chartered flights, with all airport virus screenings negative upon arrival. A Gamba staff member tested positive two days later, with the other infections also confirmed via PCR testing.
J-League first-division matches involving the two clubs will go ahead as scheduled on Saturday, minus the affected staff and players.
