Yahoo Finance USMNT's Weston McKennie, Juventus teammates to miss game for party violating COVID-19 rules
United States men's national team midfielder Weston McKennie and two of his Juventus teammates will be fined and face additional sanctions for violating COVID-19 protocols during a party at McKennie's home in Turin, Italy.
McKennie, the first American to play for the Serie A giants, held a party on Wednesday that consisted of about 25 people, included teammates Paulo Dybala and Arthur, the Associated Press reported. Parties are not allowed under the current COVID-19 restrictions. The country has a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Police reportedly arrived at McKennie's house at around 11:30 p.m. to find a party happening. Neighbors called it in, via the AP. The three players face fines from the police and sanctions from the team.
Arthur, Dybala and McKennie will "not be selected" for the team's game against Torino on Saturday, making their punishment at least a one-game suspension. The trio was reportedly fined by Juventus, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Weston McKennie, Paulo Dybala and Arthur have been fined, excluded and temporary suspended by Juventus. They won’t play in the Serie A matchcagainst Torino tomorrow after attending a party without respecting Covid restrictions in the American midfielder's home. ⛔️ #Juventus
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 2, 2021
Italy was the first country to enter a nationwide lockdown last March and has taken stopping the spread of the virus very seriously. It was among the European countries to impose new restrictions two weeks ago to quell a third wave of illness. It reported at the time more than 22,000 average cases per seven days and 360 average deaths over the same time span, per the New York Times.
Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday upon arriving back with the club after Italian national team duty. He is isolating at his home in Turin, Juventus said. Four members of Italy's national team staff tested positive for the virus this week, per AP.
Bonucci is the second Juventus player to test positive after international duty, joining Turkish defender Merih Demiral.
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