Former Japan defender Gotoku Sakai has tested positive for COVID-19, his club Vissel Kobe confirmed Monday, making him the first known J. League player to have been infected.
According to Vissel, Sakai fell ill late Wednesday night with a fever of 38 degrees Celsius and was diagnosed with an acute upper respiratory infection at a hospital in Hyogo Prefecture the following day. His fever persisted, however, and he began to experience head and throat pain on Friday.
Sakai reported losing his sense of smell on Saturday and was advised to undergo a test for the new coronavirus. His test came back positive on Monday afternoon.