Ligue 1 Football Starting Date Postponed After New COVID-19 Cases In Marseille

The Ligue 1 season-opening date has been postponed after the recent COVID-19 cases in Marseille. The opening match between Marseille and St Etienne on Friday night has been postponed with the detection of three new COVID-19 cases in Marseille, France.

With these new three cases, the number of players and backroom staff who have contracted the virus hit four, after left-back, Jordan Amavi tested positive last week.

? Following the tests carried out on Monday, no new cases of #COVID19 were revealed, but Sunday's 3 suspected cases have been confirmed.

The Club has sent all the details to the @LFPfr. pic.twitter.com/WjYdI6dQIG

— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_English) August 18, 2020

The LFP told clubs last week about the new set up of a "COVID committee" to advise on whether to postpone matches. When a club reports more than three coronavirus cases, match postponement is likely, based on the "COVID protocol", the LFP sent out to the clubs.

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Ligue 1 club, Nimes have also announced "two suspected cases" ahead of their game against Brest on Sunday. Almost 40 players from 11 Ligue 1 clubs have tested positive for COVID-19, including some at Saint-Etienne.