A player testing positive for COVID-19 forced a Europa League preliminary game to be postponed Thursday - the fourth such incident in the early qualifying rounds for UEFA's club competitions. All four affected games involved positive tests within visiting teams - three from Kosovo - whose cases were dealt with by local public authorities in Switzerland, Gibraltar, the Faroe Islands and San Marino. One game last week was forfeited by Kosovo's champion Drita. San Marino club Tre Penne said a player from its opponent, Gjilani of Kosovo, tested positive ahead of Thursday's game, "The player is now isolating in quarantine in the hotel where the team are staying," Tre Penne said in a statement, later adding UEFA rescheduled the game for Friday.

European soccer body UEFA did not immediately confirm the game plans. According to UEFA's new competition rules during the pandemic, Gjilani would have to play the game by a Saturday deadline or forfeit it as a 3-0 loss. All three teams from Kosovo - Drita, Prishtina and Gjilani - entering this season's Champions League or Europa League have had games forfeited or postponed in just a 10-day spell.