15 members of Venezuelan national soccer team threaten to quit

Several members of Venezuela’s national team have said they will no longer play for their country if the team’s coaching staff and the directors of the country’s football federation are not fired, according to the EFE wire service.

A total of 15 players signed their names to a statement calling for an overhaul of the team’s leadership. Most of them posted the message on Twitter at the same time. 

Venezuela is currently attempting to qualify for the 2018 World Cup but has lost all four of its qualification matches thus far. 

Among the players threatening to quit are Salomon Rondon, Tomas Rincon, Josef Martinez and Oswaldo Vizcarrondo, who all play in one of Europe’s five major leagues.

Venezuela is the only member of the 10-team CONMEBOL federation that has not qualified for a World Cup.

“As long as the Venezuelan Football Federation is commanded by the current directors ... (the) dream of going to a soccer World Cup is threatened,” the players wrote in their statement.

- Dan Gartland