Rondon, Rincon lead Venezuela players'
threat to quit
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[December 01, 2015]
CARACAS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The core
of Venezuela's soccer squad have threatened to quit unless their
federation's (FVF) directors resign, blaming them for the team's dismal
start to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
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Venezuela, the only South American country never to reach the World
Cup finals, have ended the year bottom of the 10-nation group with
zero points after four matches, sparking speculation that coach Noel
Sanvicente would resign.
"We cannot carry on in an atmosphere already damaged by these
directors," 15 Venezuela internationals said in a statement
referring to the board headed by FVF president Laureano Gonzalez.
"We players do not hold that the current FVF board should stay in
charge since it is not negotiable the way we have been treated and
how the World Cup project has been managed," they said.
The group, headed by West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon and
captain Tomas Rincon of Genoa, criticised Gonzalez for accusing them
last week of planning to get Sanvicente sacked.
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"We accept criticism of our performances...and as a team take
responsibility for the results but...in no way do we accept that we
were preparing a movement to get the national coach out," said the
statement published on social media.
"We are upset and disillusioned by the lack of support from the
national team's coaching staff over these accusations."
Gonzalez made his remarks when Middlesbrough central defender
Fernando Amorebieta surprisingly announced last week his retirement
from the "Vinotino" (red wine), as the national team is known due to
their burgundy strip.
"We as a team think a big change in the federation is needed so as
not to lose the work done over more than eight years," the statement
said.
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It referred to previous cycles under former coach Cesar Farias when
Venezuela reached the Copa America semi-finals in 2011 for the first
time and came close to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup finals in
Brazil.
The players did not say whether their differences with the board
were also related to a backlog in their pay for national team
appearances.
The board has been in power since former president Rafael Esquivel
was arrested in Switzerland in May as part of the U.S. and Swiss
investigations into corruption at world ruling body FIFA and is
awaiting extradition to the United States.
"We want to say that the money earned during this cycle and what we
are owed will go to a foundation we players (who are) named here are
creating towards helping our young and to develop sports schools,"
the statement added. (Reporting by Eyanir Chinea; Writing by Rex
Gowar, editing by Ed Osmond)
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