Neymar has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been sidelined from team activities, his club Santos confirmed in a statement reported by local media on Sunday.

According to the club, the 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and underwent medical testing that confirmed the infection.

In an official statement, Santos wrote: “With a viral condition that began on Thursday (June 5), Neymar Jr. underwent laboratory tests after evaluation by the Medical Department of Santos FC, which confirmed infection by Covid-19.

“The player had already been away from activities since Thursday, when he began showing symptoms, and remains resting at home and undergoing symptomatic treatment, as determined by a doctor.

”Santos did not specify how long Neymar will be unavailable, but Neymar had already been ruled out of Santos’ upcoming league match against Fortaleza due to suspension.

The Fortaleza match will be Santos’ last outing before the Brazilian league pauses for the June 14-July 13 Club World Cup in the United States.

The former Barcelona forward’s future at Santos remains uncertain as his contract expires on June 30.

He has only made 12 appearances for Santos this season across all competitions, recording three goals and three assists, due to injury.

The annual FIFA Member Association courses for technical and physical fitness instructors, and for young talents in refereeing, is now ongoing ( June 8 – 19 ) at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The participants are 80.

According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the programme for technical and physical fitness instructors, who are 40 in number, has the objective of bringing Nigeria’s technical and physical fitness instructors up to speed with current trends, tendencies and ideals, for them to imbibe global best practices in the refereeing business.

World football-governing body, FIFA, Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed, as well as Fitness Instructor Boubaker Hanachi are to superintend the programmes, alongside Nigerian instructors Felicia Okwugba, Peter Edibe, Emmanuel Imiere and Stella Emoji, and IT/Video Instructor Promise Uwaeme.

For the technical and physical fitness programme, participants will be taken through the course objectives, challenges and tactical fouls, and preparation of practical training on day one, with new law changes, tactical approach, handball, offside, penalty area incidents and use of new FIFA red among other presentations. Practical training with referees and players will kick off each day’s programme.

The final of this year’s Federation Cup between debutants Abakaliki FC and Kwara United will be held on June 28 at the magnificent Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena Lagos, a top official of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu, Remo Stars Sports Complex and Bwari Township Stadium were weighed before the NFF finally settled for the iconic stadium in Lagos,” said the official.

“The final of the 2025 edition of the Federation Cup will be staged at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena Lagos on Saturday, June 28.”

“Other stadiums like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Remo Stars Stadium and the remodeled Bwari Township Stadium in Abuja were considered but the NFF decided to take the final of the competition to its traditional home ground.

“So, after successfully hosting last edition, Mobolaji Johnson Stadium will have the honour of hosting this year’s final again,” he said.