Need to know
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been hit by an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, and US officials have warned the national team could be barred from the World Cup unless they maintain a strict 21-day isolation bubble
Need to know: World Cup team faces quarantine threat over Ebola fears
- Congo’s World Cup dream could be CRUSHED by deadly Ebola fears as US officials threaten to boot the team from the tournament.
- American authorities have warned the African nation’s squad they must quarantine for 21 days in Belgium or face being banned from entering the United States.
- Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the World Cup’s White House Task Force, delivered the stark ultimatum to FIFA bosses. He said: “We’ve been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11.”
- The official added: “We cannot be any clearer. We want to make sure there is nothing that’s going to come in or near our borders.”
- But Congo team bosses are defying the demands and sticking to their original schedule, including friendlies against Denmark and Chile. A spokesman insisted: “We have kept our training programme. No player in the squad has come from DRC.”
- The World Health Organisation has raised the Ebola risk to ‘very high’ with 82 confirmed cases and seven deaths – though the real toll could be as high as 750 cases and 177 deaths.
- Congo qualified for their first World Cup in 52 years and are set to face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in their opening match on June 17.
- READ THE FULL STORY: World Cup team could be thrown out over fears they could spread deadly ‘bleeding eyes’ disease
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