Louisville men's soccer dismisses players for party linked with coronavirus outbreak

ESPN reported on Thursday that the Louisville men's soccer team has dismissed three players and suspended three others upon learning that they held a party linked with a coronavirus outbreak that caused four of the school's programs to temporarily pause workouts. 

The university announced on Wednesday that workouts for men's and women's soccer, field hockey, and volleyball were halted after at least 29 student-athletes tested positive for the virus. 

In a statement, Louisville soccer coach John Michael Hayden said: 

"I'm extremely disappointed in these young men and particularly with the three that have been dismissed. They have demonstrated with their actions now and previously that they do not echo the culture of this program. Our student-athletes are held to a high standard of conduct as representatives of our program and university."

Athletics director Vince Tyra also spoke about the dismissal of the players who previously violated team rules before the party: 

"Ignoring the safety protocols issued by federal, state and local officials, as well as the athletic department, is unacceptable and dangerous. Their history of actions are not in alignment with the values of this university and athletics department."

The identities of the six players weren't disclosed. 

According to ESPN, this is the first high-profile public discipline of student-athletes directly blamed for a coronavirus outbreak on a campus. Student-athletes who returned to team facilities for voluntary workouts around the country this summer did so under strict guidelines as it pertains to the use of face coverings, continuing social-distancing practices, and avoiding non-approved large gatherings that could potentially expose them to infected individuals.