Vela Out Of MLS Tournament As Virus Cases Surge: Report

Los Angeles, July 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jul, 2020 ) :Los Angeles FC star Carlos Vela has withdrawn from Major League Soccer's restart tournament in Orlando as the region grapples with a surge in coronavirus cases, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

The Times said Vela -- the reigning MLS scoring champion and Most Valuable Player -- had opted to skip LAFC's trip to Florida to remain at home with his pregnant wife and young son.

Major League Soccer allows players to withdraw from the "MLS is Back" tournament for health or family reasons.

Mexico international Vela's withdrawal robs the league's restart tournament of one of the league's biggest Names just two days before the competition is set to kick off in Orlando.

All 26 MLS teams are taking part in the tournament, which will start with a group stage followed by a knockout competition.

Teams are being based inside a protective "bubble" at the Walt Disney World Resort sports complex in Orlando for the duration of the tournament, which concludes on August 11.

However, preparations for the tournament have been accompanied by a spike in COVID-19 cases in Florida. A further 6,336 cases of the disease were confirmed on Monday, taking the state's total to 206,447.