Brazilian Serie B midfielder Valdivia was substituted at half-time during Avai’s team’s match against CSA on Saturday after his club were notified he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Avai said Valdivia had undergone a previous test on Saturday so he could be released for the club’s next game against Juventude on Tuesday.

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But when the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) notified the club that he had tested positive, Saturday’s match against CSA had already started.

“In the first half the CBF communicated … that Valdivia had tested positive,” Avai said in a statement, adding that the player was asymptomatic.

That’s why Valdivia was replaced. The club is now reviewing his isolation and return.

Match ends 1-1.

Brazil reported 61,567 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, and 1,050 deaths, the fifth day in a row with more than 1,000 deaths, the Health Ministry said.

More than 200,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Brazil.

Source: espn.co.uk