Domagoj Vida Played Against Turkey Even After Testing Positive To Covid-19Croatia defender Domagoj Vida played in the first half of his team's 3-3 draw against Turkey on Wednesday, before his team received information that he had tested positive for COVID-19, the country's football association said as quoted by Reuters on Thursday.
All Croatian players, including center-back Besiktas Vida, tested negative on Monday and had another routine test Wednesday morning ahead of their friendly against Turkey in Istanbul.
Croatia will have a Nations League match against Sweden the day after tomorrow. The experienced center-back started the match as the captain of the Croatian national team and missed a penalty in the first half.
The management of the Turkish team was initially notified of a potential positive result shortly before the second half began where team manager Zlatko Dalic had already installed Filip Uremovic to replace Vida. Vida, 31, was immediately isolated from his squad before a retest confirmed he was positive.
Croatian officials say he will need several days of self-isolation in Istanbul, the home of the Besiktas club, when his team travel to Stockholm.
Other team members in their delegation tested positive but had no contact with the team or staff. After the match schedule Saturday they travel to Sweden, Croatia will face Portugal at home on Tuesday in Group 3 Nations League A.