Montpellier's Sambia in medically induced coma after contracting COVID-19
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The agent for Montpellier midfielder Junior Sambia confirmed that his client is in stable condition after being placed in a medically induced coma after testing positive for the coronavirus.
"His condition is stable this Friday. It has not deteriorated, nor improved," Sambia's agent, Frederic Guerra, told Le Parisien, per ESPN UK.
Sambia was admitted to the hospital Tuesday and initially tested negative for COVID-19. Sambia's health then declined rapidly, with Guerra saying, "He was due to leave on Wednesday, then his condition worsened with his lungs.
"It grew more complicated in transit. He went back to the same hospital, then he changed hospitals twice before being placed in an artificial coma," Guerra added.
Sambia was admitted to the intensive care at the CHU Arnaud-de-Villeneuve in Montpellier and had a second test administered that returned a positive result.
Montpellier released a statement Thursday confirming that a player had been hospitalized, though there was no mention of Sambia or COVID-19.
Sambia, who joined Montpellier on a permanent deal in 2018, appeared in 17 Ligue 1 matches for La Paillade this season before it was indefinitely suspended March 13.
The 23-year-old becomes the first Ligue 1 player with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Earlier Friday, French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet said the French Cup and League Cup finals could be contested in June before the Ligue 1 season resumes.
The French professional league (LFP) also said that beginning May 11, players will undergo medicals before being permitted to return to training. Ligue 1's resumption is tentatively scheduled for June 17.
France reported 159,828 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22,245 fatalities as of Friday morning.