WALES AXE TRIO

Players sent home overshadows build-up to crunch World Cup qualifier

WALES’S preparations for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic have been rocked after three players were sent home.

Hal Robson-kanu, Rabbi Matondo and Tyler Roberts were told to leave the training camp yesterday for breaching Football Association of Wales protocol.

Leeds striker Roberts later apologised on social media – in a post which has since been deleted – for staying up too late and breaking a curfew at the team hotel.

An FAW statement said: “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.”

Roberts and on-loan Stoke winger Matondo, 20, both started Saturday’s 1-0 friendly victory over Mexico in Cardiff, while West Brom striker Robson-kanu, 31, came on at half-time.

The three players were all hoping to be involved against the Czechs as Wales seek to put their first 2022 World Cup qualifying points on the board after losing their opening game in Belgium last week.

Roberts said, in the now-deleted post: “Gutted to be leaving the camp early, but rules are rules and I shouldn’t have been up later in the hotel than the set time.

“Sorry to the team, staff and Wales fans.

“I will continue to work as hard as I can to earn my place in the squad for the Euros.”

The three players being sent home is the latest blow for a Wales squad who have been without manager Ryan Giggs for the last two international camps.

Robert Page has taken control in Giggs’s absence, winning three, drawing one and losing one of his five games in caretaker charge.

Welsh football has been in further disarray behind the scenes with chief executive Jonathan Ford leaving after a vote of no confidence from the FAW council.