This archive report was first published on 10 May 2020.
On August 14, 2019, French referee Stephanie Frappart oversaw the UEFA Super Cup match between FC Liverpool and FC Chelsea at Besiktas Park Stadium in Istanbul. (Photo by Bulent Kilic / AFP)
As Turkey's football leagues prepare to resume on June 12, a coronavirus outbreak has cast a shadow over the sport. League leaders Trabzonspor, champions Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas have all held training sessions in small groups, in line with guidelines set out by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF).
On May 10, 2020, Besiktas announced that one of their players and a staff member had tested positive for the virus. The club stated that all players and coaching staff had been tested, and the affected individual had begun treatment.
Another Turkish club, Fenerbahce, also reported a positive case on May 8, 2020, prompting them to cancel a scheduled practice session. The Turkish government had announced plans to ease lockdown measures on May 4, 2020, after the virus outbreak had reached a plateau.
TFF Chairman Nihat Ozdemir had previously stated that Turkey was planning to host the Champions League final in late August. The country's domestic soccer leagues will resume without fans, a decision that has been met with some criticism.
