Barça's Arturo Vidal and the measures Chile are taking against coronavirus

The Chilean Football Federation is taking measures to protect their players spread across various European countries where they are playing. 

Given the growth in the number of cases in Europe, above all in the north of Italy, the directors of La Roja have designated a medic to design a plan of action and control for the Chilean internationals on the continent. 

According to various reports in South America, the fact that 45 countries are now affected by the virus has seen the alarm bells sound, above all because of the looming international break in March, when the players are due back in Chile for qualification games for the 2022 World Cup. 

ARTURO VIDAL 

The 'calm' at the Chilean Federation was not exactly helped by the images of the Ludogorets players arriving in Milan for Thursday's game against Inter in the Europa League wearing masks (the game was played behind closed doors). 

One of the players they will be keeping an eye on, obviously, is Arturo Vidal, one of the leaders of La Roja. According to La Tercera, Fernando Yáñez, the national team's doctor, has contracted the help of Jaime Labarca, an infectologist, to help draw up a plan of prevention. The WhatsApp group for the players in Europe is constantly full of messages checking in. "How are you?" The player have also been given protocol for prevention to follow to the letter. The contact is made through Yáñez, but always based on advice from Labarca. The players' reception has been positive. 

Italy is the zone which concerns the most. The epidemic seems to be out of control in the country where Chile has Alexis (Inter), Medel (Bologna), Pulgar (Fiorentina) and Sierralta (Parma). Vidal, a resident in Barcelona, where various cases have been reported, is also following the Federation's protocol. Uruguay-Chile and Chile-Colombia are the two games that, save surprises, Vidal will be involved in next month.