Carlo Ancelotti has emphasised “health is the most important thing for everyone” amid the coronavirus pandemic and says the suspension of professional football in England was the “right decision”.


The Italian added the Everton player who is self-isolating after reporting a high temperature on Thursday night is feeling better.

The player will remain in self-isolation for a total of seven days – a period which began on Thursday – as a precautionary measure.

No other players or first-team staff are self-isolating at this stage but Everton’s USM Finch Farm training facility has been closed as a precaution and staff, including players, have been advised to stay away from all Club sites until further notice.

Ancelotti explained: “We’re not really self-isolating at all, but some prevention measures did come in after a player had a fever, but his temperature has dropped now and that’s the most important thing.

“The Premier League did stop eventually, and it’s about time.

“It was the right decision faced with the scenario.

“We couldn’t continue. Health is the most important thing for everyone: teams, fans, media, everyone who works in football.


“In theory, we ought to get back to work on March 22, but if the situation in general should worsen, how can we even think of that? If the coronavirus is still spreading rapidly, football cannot resume.”

Ancelotti re-iterated that football is not a priority at present given the scale of the outbreak.

As of Sunday morning, 1,140 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the United Kingdom. Twenty-one of those who have tested positive have died.


In Ancelotti’s native Italy, more than 1,400 people have died after contracting the disease.

“Football counts for zero right now and it almost irritates me to be talking about it, faced with the tragedy that is unfolding in front of our eyes,” Ancelotti said.

“This is a pandemic, a situation none of us had experienced before now.

“The number of deaths in Italy is terrible. In one day, another 250 people died. The priority is to concentrate on this fight, the rest doesn’t matter.”