Investigations underway after concerns raised as “blind eye” turned to ill players at Connah’s Quay Nomads match in Wrexham last night

North Wales Police has said they are “aware of the public concern” around Connah’s Quay Nomads Europa League match against Dinamo Tbilisi in Wrexham last night.

Following the match – which Nomads lost 1-0 after conceding a 97th-minute penalty – Morrison said they “had to turn a blind eye” to players who turned up feeling unwell.

On Wednesday the club confirmed that three players tested positive for COVID-19 with an additional player showing symptoms.

In an interview with media outlets on video after the game, Morrison said: “Three lads have turned up tonight and they’re not well.

“And it’s like ‘lads, I don’t want to hear it. I can’t hear it tonight that you’re ill… let’s just get through it’. “

“I’ve been told that before the game and we’ve had to turn a blind eye to it and then you would have never noticed that anyone there tonight wasn’t feeling great.”

Nomads have said Morrison’s comments have been “misconstrued by many” to mean the club ignored COVID-19 regulations.

The club said today a “…number of players had suffered from isolated pre-match upset stomach and headaches likely down to nerves…”.

Headache and diarrhoea are listed by the World Health Organisation as possible Covid-19 symptoms.

Today the First Minister Mark Drakeford was asked by Channel 4 News if there should be a further investigation, he replied: “I think it probably does. We’ve been in contact with the FAW this morning. They are going to investigate, they’re going to establish the facts. I’ve seen the additional statement put out by Connah’s Quay today correcting, as they would see it, an impression that was given overnight. Nevertheless, I think it’s important that the facts are established.

“I’ve been dealing this week with requests from other football clubs in Wales for us to allow a return of fans to matches. I’m sympathetic to that if it can be done in the right way, but if it’s going to be done, it’s got to be done on the basis that the authorities that are responsible for the running of sports clubs in Wales who give undertakings, that we can all have confidence that those undertakings will be honoured.”

North Wales Police have said this afternoon: “We are aware of the public concern around the Connah’s Quay Nomads football match played yesterday in Wrexham.

“We have been working closely with partners in the local authority, the Football Association of Wales and Public Health Wales to ensure the matter in fully investigated and appropriate action is taken to maintain and secure public safety.”

“Our colleagues in Public Health Wales will lead this work and NWP will continue to support them in any way we can.”

Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “On 16 September Public Health Wales was asked for advice by Connah’s Quay Nomads following notification of three positive cases in the players ahead of their match with Dinamo Tbilisi.”

“Our advice was consistent with the national guidance, namely that as long as Covid-positive players and their contacts were self-isolating, and social distancing had been observed, the decision of whether the football match should go ahead was up to the football authorities.

“Our assessment of risk and subsequent advice was based on information supplied to Public Health Wales by Connah’s Quay Nomads along with assurances that our advice would be implemented.”

“We urge all people who have symptoms of COVID to self-isolate, not attend workplaces, and to seek testing.”

Wrexham Football Club have also issued a statement today, “Before Andy Morrison’s comments to the press, we had already put the following procedures in place to ensure the cleanliness of the Racecourse Ground and safety of our own players and employees:

• All areas of the Racecourse Ground are to be deep cleaned before Wrexham AFC players return next week.
• For training on Friday, both the first team and youth team reported straight to the training ground, rather than to the stadium first.
• The Centenary Club, which was used as Connah’s Quay Nomads’ home dressing room, will be left closed until Monday, when that too will be deep cleaned. “

The Wrexham Football Club added some detail on the process involved via their statement, ” Club stadium officials attended Connah’s Quay Nomads on Tuesday for COVID tests in line with UEFA protocols and we were advised by Connah’s Quay Nomads on Wednesday (September 16) that all of our club officials had tested negative.

“The club held further discussions with Connah’s Quay Nomads’ medical officials on Thursday morning, following their players’ positive COVID-19 tests ahead of the match.

“Following these discussions, it was agreed that Connah’s Quay Nomads would complete medical screening and temperature checks on their players arriving on Thursday evening.

“From the results disclosed to us, no player showed a temperature or answered that they displayed any symptoms.  Earlier in the day, the club had already alerted the relevant authorities about the developing situation.  We held further conversations with representatives of the relevant authorities on a decision as to whether the game would go ahead.  The club received a message from medical representatives of Connah’s Quay Nomads, confirming they had adhered to all protocols.”

“This was forwarded to the relevant authorities and, based on the contents of that message, the decision was taken by the relevant authorities to allow the game to go ahead. ”

Wrexham Council have also been approached for comment.