Saturday’s F3 derby between Newcastle and the Central Coast has been postponed due to fresh COVID-19 cases at the Jets.
The Jets were meant to visit the Mariners for their first game in close to a month, but the fixture was called off on Friday afternoon due to a spike in cases at the club.
Initially the Jets had to cancel their Friday morning pre-match press conference with coach Arthur Papas after three players recorded positive results.
Other players were symptomatic and the entire squad and staff were sent for PCR tests.
More positive cases returned and, under A-League rules which state five players must record a positive COVID-19 diagnosis for a game to be postponed, the game was called off.
The postponement means Newcastle haven’t played since December 19 due to COVID-19 cases at the Jets and at rival A-League clubs.
It remains unclear whether their January 19 clash with Western United will proceed.
The Mariners, meanwhile, had more than 20 players test positive over the Christmas period with the club’s first game after a lengthy break now next week’s FFA Cup semi-final against Sydney FC.
Their last competitive game was on December 21.
Only two A-League Men games – Adelaide United v Melbourne City and Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar – will be played this weekend.
City coach Patrick Kisnorbo said four players were currently positive at the club, while Adelaide assistant Ross Aloisi has been sidelined with the virus.
Friday’s fixture involving Macarthur and Western United and the two Sunday games – Perth v Wellington and Western Sydney v Melbourne Victory – have already been called off.
