Jordan players request 'leave' from World Cup playoff

Montevideo, Nov 15 (IANS) In signs of a brewing rebellion, seven members of Jordan’s national football team have reportedly said they won’t travel to Montevideo for next week’s second leg of their World Cup qualifying playoff against Uruguay.

Jordan need to score at least five goals at Estadio Centenario on Wednesday to force extra time after a crushing 0-5 first-leg defeat in Amman, reports Xinhua.

According to local newspaper El Pais, goalkeeper Amer Shafee – who missed the first leg through suspension – led the renegade group by telling coach Hossam Hassan “he is not ready to play”.

“That prompted other players to make the same request,” the newspaper said Thursday.

Others to reportedly refuse the trip are Amer Deeb, Hassan Abdel Fattah, Anas Bani Yaseen, Ibrahim Al Zawahra, Odai Al Saify and Saeed Morjan.

“The coach has accepted their request, even though the Jordanian football federation has tried to change their mind,” the newspaper added.