Fifteen members of the Venezuela national team, including West Bromwich Albion’s Salomón Rondón, have issued a statement saying they will refuse to play in the remainder of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers unless the national coaches and federation officials are replaced.
The players released the statement on social media on Monday in an angry response to comments from the head of the Venezuelan federation, Laureano González, who reportedly accused them of trying to get the head coach, Noel Sanvicente, sacked.
“We the players are no longer in agreement that this group of leaders of the FVF should continue as it’s not acceptable the way we’ve been treated and the way they’ve managed the project to take the national team to the World Cup,” read the statement.
“We strongly believe the team needs a complete managerial change lest we lose the work done over the last eight years.
“Our integrity is non-negotiable and the damage done can only be repaired by a total overhaul of the leaders of the FVF. We can’t continue playing in an environment so damaged by these leaders.”
Venezuela are currently bottom of the Conmebol 2018 World Cup qualification table, having lost all four of their matches so far. Their next scheduled match is away to Peru in March.
