Whitecaps report illness following CONCACAF Champions Cup final
The Vancouver Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players who traveled to Mexico for last weekend's CONCACAF Champions Cup final have become ill.
The Whitecaps canceled practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported gastrointestinal symptoms.
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Toronto Star
9 hours ago
- Toronto Star
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday.
CBC
12 hours ago
- CBC
Canada soccer coach claims Vancouver Whitecaps players were 'poisoned' during cup final trip to Mexico
Social Sharing Canada coach Jesse Marsch expressed outrage Friday, saying Vancouver Whitecaps players had been "poisoned" during their visit to Mexico for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. The Whitecaps issued a statement Thursday saying about half of the 75 people who returned to Vancouver on the team's charter plane after Sunday's game had reported symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness. Whitecaps players Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson missed training after arriving sick in the Canadian camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's game at Toronto's BMO Field between Canada and Ukraine in the inaugural Canadian Shield tournament. "They're better now," Marsch said before speaking at a Canada Ukraine Foundation breakfast Friday. "They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances [Saturday]. But for me, it's appalling that this is the second year in a row that CONCACAF and the powers that be have allowed an MLS team to go down to Mexico for a big final and get poisoned. "It's ridiculous. Something has to be done to protect these environments." The Columbus Crew also complained of stomach illness after their loss at Mexico's CF Pachuca in last year's Champions Cup final. Crew coach Wilfried Nancy confirmed afterwards that nearly the entire roster and coaching staff had been stricken by what the club believed to be food poisoning. Marsch acknowledged he had no proof of poisoning but added, "It's not random that two years in a row that this has happened." "If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry. I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen," he said. Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said Friday that he doesn't believe someone intentionally got his team sick. "I don't expect us to be deliberately poisoned or anything when we were down there. But I don't know," he said. Marsch has experience of being at the receiving end of dark arts while visiting Mexico with the U.S. or a club team, citing fire alarms in the middle of the night and dancing and singing outside their hotel. "And those are somewhat spirited, competitive advantages that are created when you go down to Mexico," he said. "But poisoning the team is another version." WATCH | Preview of the 2025 Gold Cup: Just Soccer: Gold Cup preview, plus NSL Top Plays 2 days ago Duration 12:51 Andi Petrillo chats with former USMNT player and analyst Sacha Kljestan to preview the 2025 Gold Cup. With Canada under head coach Jesse Marsch, Kljestan breaks down the key storylines for Canada. Marsch said his understanding was that the Whitecaps were suffering from food poisoning. Vancouver arrived in Mexico City last Friday and were trounced 5-0 by Cruz Azul in Sunday's final of CONCACAF's elite club competition. "Not only have we lost the game, also we have picked up some sort of a virus and are dealing with that right now," Vancouver sporting director and CEO Axel Schuster told reporters Thursday. Schuster said it was "unlikely" any of Vancouver's players experienced symptoms during the game. The club said in a statement Thursday that it is working with local health authorities and an infectious disease expert regarding the illness. The Whitecaps cancelled a planned training session on Wednesday and held a modified individual session on Thursday for players who had been cleared by medical staff. Some players returned to the field for training on Friday, but left the session early, Sorensen said. Vancouver is scheduled to host the Seattle Sounders on Sunday, but Sorensen said he can't envision his team being ready for the game. "I don't want to risk our players. That's the most important thing for me. The most important thing is the health and care for the players," the coach said. "For now, it looks difficult for us to put up a team for a game that we should be able to compete in the MLS. But that's just my opinion." When asked after training Friday, Marsch did not retreat from his comments. "It's obvious, you don't run into two years and a final and MLS teams getting food poisoning," he said. "I get it, why they can't say anything. They're not sure, and I'm not sure either. But this is too much of a coincidence. It's a shame." CONCACAF declined to comment on Marsch's assertion. While the confederation takes total control of the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League, it acts in more of a support role in the Champions Cup. It offers financial support and, if needed, logistical advice to teams competing in the club competition.
Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday. 'They're better now,' Marsch said. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances.' The trio practiced with the national team Friday in preparation for the match at Toronto's BMO Field. Canada also plays Ivory Coast on Tuesday as it readies for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Marsch, who said it was his understanding that the players had food poisoning, questioned how it could happen two years in a row. Last year, Columbus Crew players fell ill while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico against Pachuca. 'If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry. I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen,' he said. The Whitecaps were forced to cancel practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported the gastrointestinal symptoms. It appeared many players had returned Friday. 'The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority. Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery,' the Whitecaps said in a statement. Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster told reporters that about half of the 75 people who returned to Canada via charter following the game reported symptoms. The Whitecaps lost 5-0 to Liga MX team Cruz Azul in the tournament's championship game Sunday night in Mexico City. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Whitecaps were scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match at BC Place on Sunday. Nine players were already going to be missing because of national team duty, including Ahmed, Adekugbe and Nelson. Schuster said the Whitecaps have been in contact with the league about whether the team would have enough players for the game. 'If we have enough healthy and fit players available, we want to play it, of course,' Schuster said. 'No one ever wants not to play a game if he thinks he has a group together that is ready to compete in this game.' ___ AP soccer:
