Wales send three players home for breaching protocol ahead of World Cup qualifier

A win in midweek could be crucial with the Czech side already on four points from two games

Karl Matchett
Monday 29 March 2021 11:00 EDT
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Roberts is one of three to have been sent home by the FA of Wales
Roberts is one of three to have been sent home by the FA of Wales (Getty Images)

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Wales trio Tyler Roberts, Hal Robson-Kanu and Rabbi Matondo have been sent home by the national team after breaching squad protocols.

The Welsh side are preparing for a World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic, to be played on Tuesday, but the three players will now not take part after being told to return to their clubs.

A short statement from the FAW read: “Three members of the Cymru senior national squad - Hal Robson-Kanu, Rabbi Matondo and Tyler Roberts - have been released from the Welsh camp today after breaching FAW protocol.

“The three players will be returning to their respective clubs this afternoon.

“The FAW will not be making any further comment.”

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Roberts, a regular with Leeds United in the Premier League, featured as sub in the opening qualifier of the group against Belgium last week, while both he and Matondo started the weekend friendly defeat to Mexico.

Robson-Kanu came off the bench in that match, winning his 46th cap in the process as one of the more experienced members of the senior squad.

Wales are also currently without their head coach Ryan Giggs, who is on “special leave” from the national team amid his ongoing police investigation on suspicion of assault.

Robert Page is currently in charge of the team and will know a positive result against Czech Republic is now of paramount importance, after the defeat to Belgium.

But he will have to mastermind a win without three further attacking options after this disciplinary decision, to go along with the absent David Brooks and Aaron Ramsey.

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