Inter Miami-Nashville playoff game still on despite COVID-19 issues

Friday night's Inter Miami at Nashville SC MLS Cup playoff game is still on, as scheduled, despite Miami dealing with worrisome COVID-19 issues. 

Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald was the first to report that Miami starters Gonzalo Higuain and Gonzalez Pirez, along with Gonzalo's brother Federico Higuain, tested positive for the virus and didn't travel to Nashville for the postseason fixture.

Two reserve players who wouldn't have been in the Miami squad for Friday's contest also tested positive. 

This past summer, Nashville SC missed out on the "MLS is Back" tournament held inside the secure bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex because of a coronavirus outbreak within the team. 

ESPN's Jeff Carlisle added that MLS is allowing Miami to compete because at least four days passed since the club's most recent positive test. 

Miami may have been facing the end of their postseason run without kicking a ball. Carlisle explained on Wednesday that the North American top-flight could force a club impacted by a virus outbreak or similar COVID-19 issues to forfeit in order to maintain the schedule leading up to MLS Cup slated for Dec. 12. MLS officials are also open to rescheduling postseason games, if necessary. 

MLS intends to start the 2021 campaign in early March due to calendar congestion caused by international tournaments and dates.

Miami (1.04 points per game) finished the regular season 10th in the East and possess the conference's final postseason berth. Nashville (1.39 PPG) were seventh.