Footballers in all four professional divisions have been removing the NHS Covid-19 app from their mobile phones ahead of next season — many doing so after encouragement from their clubs.
Almost 700,000 people using the service were told to self-isolate in the second week of this month.
Players are likely to receive a 'ping' from their phone if a team-mate tests positive for coronavirus given the close contact inside dressing rooms, and many have now deleted the app as clubs bid to avoid disruption to their seasons.
Sportsmail understands managers and club personnel have encouraged their players to remove the app from their phones, suggesting to their squads that it is the best course of action in a bid to avoid teams being left short on numbers at the start of the new term, which kicks off with the EFL Cup tie between Bournemouth and Crystal Palace on Saturday.