FIFA president Gianni Infantino has tested positive for COVID-19, global soccer's governing body has confirmed.
Infantino, 50, has reported mild symptoms and is in self-isolation, and will quarantine for at least 10 days.
"All people who came into contact with the FIFA president during the last few days have been informed accordingly and they are being requested to take the necessary steps," says the world governing body.
"FIFA sincerely wishes president Infantino a speedy recovery."
Infantino, who was previously European football general secretary, first took office in February 2016 and is currently serving his second team as FIFA boss, after he was re-elected in June 2019.
Infantino has been vocal on the 2022 World Cup's chances of continuing, despite the impact of coronavirus on the global game.
"I cannot imagine the Qatar 2022 World Cup without fans, because playing a competition the size of the World Cup without spectators is almost no point in having, causing us big issues," he said.
"We have sufficient time in order to contain the coronavirus pandemic and the global community will have done this by winter 2022.
"At the present time, the crisis threatens football and for the first time since World War II, football competitions around the world have been stopped. The situation is very difficult, especially for those countries that depend on the income of fans attending."
More than 44 million cases of COVID-19 have now been reported around the world, including 1.1 million deaths.
Reuters/Newshub
