TWO Bolton Sunday league football teams and a referee are self-isolating after a player revealed he had tested positive for coronavirus after a game.

League bosses have branded one unnamed player ‘an idiot’ after the match between Radcliffe Vets A and Failsworth Home Guard ended in controversy.

One Failsworth player was on the pitch, at Little Lever Sports Centre, for around 65 minutes of the game before coming off due to injury. He then received a text, notifying him he was positive for coronavirus, while on the sidelines.

Players from each of the Bolton Sports Federation Over 35 Veterans’ Football League sides now have to self-isolate for 14 days, along with the match official, it has been confirmed.

The league game eventually finished 8-0 to Radcliffe Vets A.

But league officials have labelled the player who tested positive as “irresponsible” for competing while awaiting a Covid test result.

A spokesman from the Bolton Sports Federation Over 35 Veterans’ Football League, said: “We have urged teams to be careful with following coronavirus guidelines since the restart. The guy is a bit of an idiot for doing it as its now affected so many other people.

“He shouldn’t have been playing football if he was awaiting a test, he’s put a lot of people in danger. It’s not just affected everyone on the pitch and those who’ve used the changing room but anyone who they’ve then come into contact with.

“It’s very irresponsible and he definitely made a mistake. He’s obviously just not thought it through, a lot of players have families and this will effect them especially.

“It will be his team-mates that are the most at risk now too as they share a changing room at close proximity.

“With restrictions on games possibly coming into force at any point we don’t even know when the season will end so missing out on games because of this won’t be good for these teams.”

Both clubs have been approached for a comment but were unavailable.

Other teams in their division include Radcliffe Old Boys, Horwich St Mary’s and Old Boltonians.

The league has already been hit by obstacles because of the coronavirus pandemic.

One of their teams, AFC Darwen, had already been forced to postpone four fixtures in October and November as neighbouring Lancashire is currently under tier 3 lockdown restrictions.