Galatasaray's coach Fatih Terim tests positive for coronavirus
Turkish football club Galatasaray's coach Fatih Terim has announced that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was being treated at the hospital. On March 15, during a press conference, Terim had criticized the Turkish Football Federation for not suspending the league.
Duvar English
Turkish football club Galatasaray's coach Fatih Terim has announced that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
"According to test results today, my coronavirus results came out positive. I am in safe hands at the hospital. Do not worry. Hope to talk to you as earliest as possible," Fatih Terim tweeted late on March 23.
During a press meeting held after derby match with Beşiktaş on March 15, Terim had criticized the Turkish Football Federation for not suspending the league.
"Our lives are the issue here; we'll try to help, if we can...But, aren't our lives, the players' lives not important? All of our lives at risk," Terim had said.
Four days after Terim's remarks, Youth and Sports Minister Muharrem Kasapoğlu announced that Turkey suspended its basketball, soccer and volleyball leagues due to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, tests were also conducted for Hasan Gökhan Şaş and Ümit Davala, the co-assistant coaches of Galatasaray, and the results came negative, Turkish media outlets said.
The 66-year-old Terim first took charge of Galatasaray the team in the 1996-1997 season, where he achieved major success, domestic and European.
He left the club for Fiorentina and Milan after the 1999-2000 season but rejoined the club in 2003. Terim is currently coaching Galatasaray for the fourth time.
Earlier on March 23, Galatasaray confirmed that its Vice Chairman Abdurrahim Albayrak, 65, also tested positive, along with his wife Şükran Albayrak.
Turkey confirmed its first case of the coronavirus early on March 11.
Since then, the government has taken a series of precautions against the spread of the virus, including shutting down schools, universities, bars, nightclubs, cinemas, cafes, spas, amusement parks as well as swimming pools.