Gennaro Gattuso’s side were not present at Juve’s Allianz Stadium for the game’s 1845 GMT kick-off.
They were in isolation on the instructions of the regional health authorities of the Campania region which hosts the city of Naples after midfielders Eljif Elmas and Piotr Zielinski both tested positive during the week. Napoli, who had won both their Serie A matches so far this season, risk forfeiting the game 3-0.
Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, who recovered from coronavirus last month, said he believes it is “too dangerous” to travel to Turin, and asked on Sunday evening that the match be postponed “without further delay”.
Serie A insisted that all the health protocols were in place for the match to safely go ahead as scheduled in Turin.
“The protocol provides ... rules, which allow the playing of league matches even in the event of positive tests, fielding the players who tested negative,” the league said in a statement.
It added that these measures are “applicable to the situation of Napoli, who have two positive players for Covid-19”.
Napoli are the first team in Europe’s five major leagues not to take to the pitch due to the coronavirus pandemic in a game which had remained scheduled.
The club, meanwhile, moved to deny reports that coach Gennaro Gattuso had returned a positive test.
“The news regarding the positivity of Mr. Gattuso for Covid-19 is devoid of any foundation,” the club said on Twitter.
“The team group will carry out the next swabs tomorrow (Monday).”
Juventus players arrived at the stadium about an hour before kick-off.
Spain’s Fabian barred from joining squad due to Napoli quarantine
Fabian Ruiz will be unable to join up with the Spain squad for their three matches this month after his club Napoli were ordered into quarantine following three positive CovidD-19 tests, the Spanish soccer federation said yesterday.Midfielder Fabian was called up by coach Luis Enrique for Wednesday’s friendly in Portugal and UEFA Nations League games against Switzerland and Ukraine but is unable to travel to Spain to meet up with the squad due to the terms of the quarantine. The federation’s statement said Napoli had been in touch after they were barred from travelling to Turin for Sunday’s Serie A match at Juventus due to the three positive cases. “Therefore, Fabian Ruiz will not be able to leave the quarantine affecting the team and will not have the chance to join up with the Spain squad tomorrow at its headquarters in Las Rozas,” the statement said.
“The coaching staff is looking at its options in light of this new setback after Thiago Alcantara tested positive for coronavirus and will not be in the squad either.”
