Coronavirus: NBA positive case Rudy Gobert and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa slammed for ‘jokes’
- Utah Jazz centre, who is reported to have tested positive, ‘jokingly’ touched reporters’ phones at Monday press conference
- Atletico Madrid striker ‘fake coughs’ and laughs at journalists after side beat Liverpool in Uefa Champions League
The NBA player widely reported to have tested positive for the coronavirus has been criticised for touching every reporter’s phone, audio recorder and microphone on the table as he left a press conference on Monday.
Rudy Gobert was believed to be making a joke about the global fear surrounding the pandemic, but the Utah Jazz centre has reportedly since tested positive and the video has gone viral on social media.
The video was a trending topic on China’s Weibo, with users critical of Gobert. The consensus was that his ‘joke’ was irresponsible, while some users said he has put the whole league at risk.
On Wednesday, following the NBA’s decision to suspend all games indefinitely, the Jazz released a statement that did not name the infected player but confirmed a positive test.
They explained the circumstances that led to their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder being called off, which in turn led to the NBA being suspended indefinitely.
“This morning a player on the Utah Jazz tested negative for influenza, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection.
Coronavirus: NBA suspended ‘until further notice’ as Jazz player tests positive
“The individual’s symptoms diminished over the course of today, however, in a precautionary measure, and in consultation and cooperation with NBA medical staff and Oklahoma health officials, the decision was made to test for Covid-19.
“A preliminary positive result came back right before tip-off of the Utah Jazz-Oklahoma City game. Subsequently, the decision was correctly made by the NBA to postpone the game.”
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has also been widely criticised for his “joke” coughing over reporters after his side’s Uefa Champions League win over Liverpool on Wednesday night.
As the Spain international walks past journalists in the mixed zone he coughs over them and laughs.
Antonella Guerrera, a journalist for La Republicca, posted from the mixed zone. “Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa has just come through the mixed zone pretending to cough at reporters,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Not nice. Not funny either.”
While Liverpool and Atletico played in front of a packed Anfield stadium, other football matches have been called off or played behind closed doors to halt the spread of the virus.
