Feyenoord refuse to release Japan's Ono for World Cup qualifier

AFP - Dutch side Feyenoord refused to release their midfielder Shinji Ono for Japan's World Cup qualifier against Iran (news - web sites) next week, the Japan Football Association said.

Feyenoord had told the Japanese association in a written statement that it would not release Ono because he was still "on the way to recovery from a serious ankle injury", it said.

The Japanese association responded by pointing out that Ono had played for 85 minutes and scored a goal in a game Sunday against Roda JC Kerkrade and requested again that he be released four days ahead of the March 25 qualifier.

"Even if he (Ono) has got an injury, we'll never let it aggravate. We'd never let it aggravate before. I hope the club follows the regulation," said association president Saburo Kawabuchi.

The 25-year-old midfielder underwent surgery on his left ankle at a hospital in Saitama, home to his former J-League club Urawa Reds, on December 27.

Ono has been playing again since the beginning of February and has scored two goals since then.

The Japanese squad left for Germany on Thursday to train for the Iran fixture in Tehran next Friday, hoping that their Europe-based stars could join them soon.