Socceroos players, via their union, have urged Football Australia to reschedule or relocate their upcoming friendly against Jordan in Amman due to safety concerns.
Australia are due to face Qatar in Doha next Saturday AEDT and then Jordan in Amman four days later.
But some players have been reluctant to travel to the region amid instability, especially given those friendlies are no longer serving as key Asian Cup preparation.
The Asian Football Confederation postponed that tournament , originally scheduled for January-February in Saudi Arabia, following the attack on Riyadh’s international airport by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Socceroos squad was expected to be named on Friday but that announcement has been pushed back to the weekend amid question marks over whether some players will withdraw.
Indonesia’s football association has already cancelled a 13 November planned friendly against Jordan in Amman amid an escalation in violence in the area and Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) made it clear Australian players didn’t want to proceed with the game in Amman.
“The PFA has worked with Football Australia over recent weeks in relation to security concerns regarding the upcoming assembly and engaged its own independent security experts,” PFA chief executive Beau Busch said in a statement.
“With the full support of the PFA, the players have overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated.
“We are committed to working with FA to reach a sensible solution.”
Earlier on Friday, winger Awer Mabil, 31, said he would be happy to travel if selected.
“I’m always happy to be selected for the national team and representing your country. I think it’s the best honour that you can have as a player,” Mabil said.
“So I’m sure they’ll also take up the measures of the security. And for me, I’m always available no matter where we go because it’s an honour and … you never know when you’ll play for your national team again.
“So, if you’re called up, I think ‘well if I’m called up then my hand is up to go anywhere’ because I’m sure also the FA they have the security and they won’t put us in a risky position.”
Mabil also backed Tony Popovic after the coach’s future was plunged into uncertainty by the Asian Cup postponement, but stopped short of calling for him to remain at his post.
Popovic signed a short-term extension on the eve of the World Cup until after the Asian Cup.
His contract will expire early next year, leaving the experienced mentor and Football Australia to decide whether he takes Australia into the World Cup qualifying cycle and the rescheduled Asian Cup.
“After this World Cup you can see what he was implementing. It’s been great for the nation,” Mabil said.
“He’s set some great foundations and I think this Asian Cup was going to be a big moment for the country for him to stamp his mark, because I feel with what he has done has set the right foundations to win stuff.
“I’m happy for him and whatever he does I think he’ll be very good, because he’s a great leader, he’s a great coach and he’s got great backing behind him.
“So I think Australia is lucky also to have him and whether that’s for the Asian Cup to come for the future, whatever he will do I think he will have success.”
