Soccer Aid CONFIRMS it will go ahead after Roman Kemp’s positive Covid test cast doubt on the match – as the players train ahead of the big game
- The Capital FM presenter was due to play the celebrity match at Manchester City’s ground on Saturday, alongside Paddy McGuinness and Jamie Redknapp
- However, Roman, 28, took to Twitter on Friday to confirm he would be missing out on the UNICEF charity fundraiser, and said he was ‘gutted’
- ‘I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve had a positive test come through so I won’t be playing at @SoccerAid tomorrow night,’ he wrote
- But players Olly Murs, Martin Compston, Mark Wright and Wayne Rooney were seen on the pitch on Friday
- Joel Dommett, Ore Oduba and Kem Cetinay were also in attendance at the training session
Soccer Aid will go ahead on Saturday night with the players seen training ahead of the big game on Friday afternoon.
Doubt was cast on the match after Roman Kemp was forced to withdraw at the final hour after testing positive for Covid, reportedly leaving the whole competition in jeopardy.
Stars including Olly Murs, Martin Compston, Mark Wright and Wayne Rooney were enjoying a kick about on the pitch in Manchester.
Exciting: Soccer Aid will go ahead on Saturday night with the players seen training ahead of the big game on Friday afternoon (pictured Olly Murs and Dermot Kennedy)
Joel Dommett, Ore Oduba and Kem Cetinay were also in attendance at the training session as well as coach Harry Redknapp and his son Jamie.
The lads all donned their black kits with half the team wearing blue bibs as they put in the final hours of work before the highly-anticipated event.
Singer Olly, 37, looked to be delighted in the company of the sporting stars as he beamed in a snap with footballing legend Wayne, 35.
Famous faces: Stars including Olly Murs, Martin Compston, Mark Wright (left) and Wayne Rooney (right) were enjoying a kick about on the pitch in Manchester
Happy: Singer Olly, 37, looked to be delighted in the company of the sporting stars as he beamed in a snap with footballing legend Wayne, 35
It comes after Roman was forced to withdraw from the competition.
The Capital FM presenter was due to play the celebrity match at Manchester City’s ground on Saturday, alongside the likes of Paddy McGuinness and Jamie Redknapp.
However, Roman, 28, took to Twitter on Friday to confirm he would be missing out on the UNICEF charity fundraiser, and said he was ‘gutted’ he would have to watch from home.
A source told The Sun that his positive test is ‘worrying for everyone involved’ as Roman was training with some of the other players just days ago.
Match: Joel Dommett, (right) Ore Oduba and Kem Cetinay were also in attendance at the training session as well as coach Harry Redknapp
Sport: The lads all donned their black kits with half the team wearing blue bibs as they put in the final hours of work before the highly-anticipated event (Jamie Redknapp is pictured)
In the zone: Joel looked like he was getting into the swing of things in goal as he trained on Friday
Oh dear: Doubt was cast on the match after Roman Kemp was forced to withdraw at the final hour after testing positive for Covid (Mark Wright is pictured)
All smiles: Line of Duty’s Martin Compston looked in great spirits on the pitch during the training session
Coach: Harry has previously managed AFC Bournemouth, West Ham United, Portsmouth, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City
The insider told the publication: ‘It is worrying for everyone involved in Soccer Aid however as Roman was training with a lot of the players yesterday and has been in close contact with so many people.
‘Keeping the teams and those working on Soccer Aid Covid-safe is the organisers’ top priority.
‘Everyone in contact with Roman is going to be tested and extra measures are being put in place to stop any further spread. The game tomorrow will absolutely still be going ahead and this is an isolated case.’
Ready to go: Soccer Aid’s official Twitter account shared a montage of pics from the training ground on Friday
Goal! Joel looked happy during the training session as he put his fists in the air in glee
Pals: James Bay and Wayne Rooney donned their blue training tops ahead of the session on Friday
Sad: It comes after Roman was forced to withdraw from the competition (pictured is Wayne Rooney today)
Rivals: Dermot Kennedy and Olly Murs are on opposing teams on Saturday night
Chat: Pablo Zabaleta and Harry Redknapp, Manager of World XI strolled next to each other
A representative for ITV has been contacted by MailOnline for a comment.
Roman wrote on Twitter after testing positive: ‘I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve had a positive test come through so I won’t be playing at @SoccerAid tomorrow night,’ he wrote.
‘I’ll be cheering from a sofa and hope that everyone donates as much as they can for the cause. Come on Soccer Aid World XI FC!’
The son of Martin Kemp then went on to thank his stand-ins for his Capital Breakfast show on Friday morning.
England: Back Row L-R – James Arthur, James Bay, David Seaman, Aitch, David James, Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher, Wayne Rooney, Jamie Redknapp and Sir Mo Farah, Front Row L-R – Harriet Pavlou, Joel Dommett, Kelly Smith, Olly Murs, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Chunkz, Mark Wright, Max Whitlock, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Fara Williams
Warm up: Wayne Rooney, Mark Wright and Olly Murs did some stretches at the start of the session
Icon: Former England goalkeeper David Seaman looked happy as he posed with the ball
Smile: Yungblud, Judy Murray, Celebrity Manager of World XI and Julie Fleeting of World XI during a training session
Having a laugh: Yungblud and Tom Grennan pulled funny faces as they larked about on the pitch
Coronavirus scare: It comes after Roman Kemp was forced to withdraw from Soccer Aid at the final hour after testing positive for Covid, reportedly leaving the whole competition in jeopardy
‘I’m gutted!’: Roman, 28, took to Twitter on Thursday to confirm he would be missing out on the UNICEF charity fundraiser
Oh dear: The Capital FM presenter was due to play the celebrity match at Manchester City’s ground on Saturday (pictured training on Thursday)
Roman wrote: ‘Big thanks as well to @aimeevivian & @itswillmanning for stepping in on Capital Breakfast this morning. Gonna try and get back on air from Monday live from my bed
‘AND am just extremely grateful that I have had BOTH vaccine jabs before catching this. If you’re still wondering if you should get it please please do.’
Roman attended the GQ Men Of The Year Awards in London on Wednesday before heading up to Manchester to train with his celebrity team.
However, after he tested positive for Covid he was forced to pull out of the upcoming game.
Game on! Soccer Aid’ players this year include Usain Bolt, Olly Murs and Mark Wright (pictured)
Soccer Aid’s players this year include Usain Bolt, Olly Murs, Mark, Paddy, Sir Mo Farah, Ore Oduba, Joel Dommett, Liv Cooke and Chunkz.
Former footballers Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Kelly Smith, Roberto Carlos, Patrice Evra, David James, Emile Heskey and Jamie Redknapp will also take part.
Harry Redknapp returns as manager of the Soccer Aid World XI FC, while Micah Richards and David Seaman will join the England coaching team with Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager.
Former England captain David Beckham, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, will also be in attendance and will present the trophy to the winning team on the night.
Dermot O’Leary returns to host the TV coverage, and he will be joined by new touchline reporter Alex Scott and pundit Maya Jama.
The Soccer Aid for UNICEF match will air live on ITV and via ITV Hub on Saturday.
Footie: Dermot O’Leary returns to host the TV coverage, and he will be joined by new touchline reporter Alex Scott and pundit Maya Jama
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