Athletic journalist says whether Rangers clash v Standard will go ahead amid COVID-19 outbreak
Rangers will still play against Standard Liege in the Europa League on Thursday night despite an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Belgian club, according to Jordan Campbell.
The Athletic journalist reported via his personal Twitter account on Wednesday that the match will go ahead as long as Standard have 13 players, including a goalkeeper, available to play.
Standard host Rangers at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne on Thursday for the first match of the Europa League group stages but they will have to do so without Nicolas Raskin, Moussa Sissako, and Michael-Ange Balikwisha.
All three players tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, as well as goalkeeping coach Jan van Steenberghe.
Damjan Pavlovic and Abdoul Fessal Tapsoba have also been forced to self-isolate as they live with Sissako [BBC Sport].
It’s a huge blow for Standard Liege on the eve of a massive match in Belgium.
Raskin, 19, is one of the star players for Standard. The Belgium Under-19s midfielder has played in all but one of their 12 matches across all competitions this season.
Balikwisha, also 19, has had a big impact in recent matches, scoring two goals and supplying two assists in his last four appearances.
Sissako, Pavlovic and Tapsoba are on the fringes of Standard’s first-team squad but to not have them available is a huge blow towards the Belgian club’s chances of winning against Rangers.
As for Steven Gerrard’s side, we can only say that this is a boost for them. However, we hope that all those affected by the coronavirus at Standard Liege are able to fully recover and do not suffer any symptoms.
In other Rangers news, a BBC actor is baffled by the SPFL’s team of the week.