After 17 positive COVID-19 results, MLS & Colorado Dept. of Public Health postpone Rapids matches for next 10 days

After postponing four consecutive games in two weeks due to 17 positive COVID-19 cases, Major League Soccer and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have postponed three Colorado Rapids matches over the next 10 days.

They are trying to figure out how to reschedule the three matches — October 14 at Seattle Sounders, October 18 vs. Real Salt Lake, and October 21 vs. Sporting Kansas City — but still haven’t announced when the postponed games against the Portland Timbers and LA Galaxy will be played. There is no more room in the schedule before Decision Day on November 8.

The announcement said there were no new cases today and players who continue to test negative can participate in team training. The total positive COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks is 17: 5 players and 12 staff members.

Earlier on Monday, Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio of The Athletic reported that after the LA Galaxy match on Wednesday, October 7 was postponed, the club trained on Thursday (the article said “One source said the club deemed the training session safe because the newest positive was for a staffer and not a player.”), and then had another player test positive on Friday, which led to Saturday’s match against Seattle also being postponed.

Stejskal and Tenorio also reported that “one source said that the team’s remaining players — described as less than half of the roster — trained on Monday.”

The Athletic article said that MLS is considering canceling some matches and using PPG as the postseason metric, which would give the Rapids a good chance at making the playoffs. But if they make it based on PPG, is that really fair to the teams that they had to cancel against?

Not that we have much sympathy for RSL over here, but they would not qualify based on current PPG. The LA Galaxy are sitting at the bottom of the conference and the Timbers and SKC are trying to catch Seattle for the top spot in the West. Everyone wants the opportunity to get all the points they can.

I’ve avoided pointing fingers because of course everyone’s health and safety is paramount, but at this point you have to wonder what’s going on with the Rapids, especially considering no other team has had an outbreak like this.

The Columbus Crew had to postpone their match on Sunday, October 11 due to two positive COVID-19 cases from staff members and were able to return to training on Monday without any additional positive cases. Minnesota United also postponed their match on Sunday due to two positive COVID-19 cases from players, but it’s unclear if they’ve returned to training yet.

As of now, the next Rapids game will be on Saturday, October 24 at Sporting Kansas City. The Burgundy Boys have not played a game since beating the San Jose Earthquakes 5-0 on September 23.