THE start of the Witney & District FA season has been postponed for two weeks after a player tested positive for Covid-19.

The individual is believed to have contracted the virus while on holiday in Greece and featured in at least one friendly at the end of last week.

After confirmation of the positive test, the league held an emergency committee meeting last night and agreed to suspend the campaign – which was due to start this Saturday – until September 19.

A statement from the league said: “We are unsure just how many people the person or people have been in contact with over the last few days, but they have certainly played games and were drinking in a number of local pubs over the weekend before taking a test.

“We know at least one person, who has tested positive, has been in contact with players from half a dozen local clubs.”

The statement added: “On first glance this may appear to be draconian, but we as a league do not want a serious illness or death on our hands.”

All clubs have been notified of the decision and anyone who may have come into contact with the player has been asked to get tested, with some now awaiting results.

No league fixtures or friendlies will be allowed to take place before September 19, but socially-distanced training can continue.

Competition bosses have also said that clubs cannot play matches until they complete a Covid-19 risk assessment.

These have already been distributed, but more are available from the Oxfordshire FA website.

Witney & District FA chairman Paul Bircher said: “We felt we had a duty to players not to do something silly.

“We don’t want to be irresponsible and cause football to stop for any longer than it has to.

“I think we’re doing the right thing and if nothing else it’ll make people sit up.”