Socceroos coach Graham Arnold cops hefty fine, apologises after COVID-19 breach
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has copped a hefty fine and apologised for an "error of judgment" after breaching COVID-19 self-isolation protocols.
Arnold tested positive to COVID-19 last Thursday and took a walk at Narrabeen Beach in Sydney's north on Sunday.
Arnold addressed the matter in a Football Australia statement, which revealed the governing body had imposed a $25,000 fine on Arnold to be donated to the Red Cross flood relief fund.
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"I sincerely apologise for my error of judgement on Sunday," Arnold said in the statement.
"I accept that I should not have left my home as per the New South Wales self-isolation protocols and will remain at my property until my self-isolation window concludes.
"I also accept the sanctions that come because of this error."
Graham Arnold has apologised for breaching COVID-19 protocols and Football Australia has hit him with a hefty fine. Adil Al Naimi/Getty Images
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said Arnold's breach was "disappointing".
"Graham has been diligent throughout COVID-19, however on this occasion he has made an error of judgement," Johnson said.
"We have sought to act as swiftly as possible on this matter today and have imposed a significant fine, which underscores how importantly we value our representatives abiding by government protocols."
Arnold will need to return a negative PCR test following his self-isolation period to be able to re-join the Socceroos camp for its World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
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