U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie was sent home by U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter for spending a night outside the team’s COVID-19 bubble in Nashville, as well as for bringing an unauthorized individual back inside. bubble into your hotel room on a different night. which violated the team’s coronavirus protocols, sources told ESPN.
News of an unauthorized person was first reported in the McKennie hotel room TUDN’s “Let’s Talk Soccer” podcast.
McKennie was suspended for last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Canada in a World Cup qualifier for what Berhalter called a “team policy violation,” after the player was seen participating on Saturday. in the team’s last training session at the Nissan Stadium. McKennie later posted on his Instagram account that he was suspended for violating the team’s COVID-19 policy and was fired by the selection on Monday.
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Sources confirmed that McKennie’s multiple violations took into account Berhalter’s decision to suspend the midfielder and send him back to the Juventus club before qualifying for Wednesday’s World Cup in Honduras.
The issue of possible COVID-19 infection has been a concern for U.S. football since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. Striker Christian Pulisic tested positive on August 18 while he was still in the Chelsea club. Two members of the U.S. delegation, including Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen, have tested positive for COVID-19 since the team began convening on August 29th. At the time Steffen’s positive test was announced, US Soccer stated that all players and staff since then, the member had tested negative several times.
McKennie’s off-field behavior has become a source of concern for both the club and the country. The Juventus midfielder, who tested positive for COVID-19 last October, was suspended by then-coach Andrea Pirlo last April for organizing a party that included his teammates Paulo Dybala and Arthur.
News of McKennie has overshadowed the team’s preparations for Wednesday’s game. McKennie’s absence was noticed in Sunday’s draw with Canada, the second consecutive round of the US team to start qualifying for the World Cup.