Tom Rogic has withdrawn from the Socceroos squad for personal reasons.Credit:Getty
Football Australia confirmed Rogic’s absence on Tuesday morning,saying the playmaker had withdrawn due to personal reasons. Despite days of discussions with national team staff,Rogic did not give a specific reason for his absence.
“My focus must now be on the players we have here in Qatar,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said in a statement. “We have selected an extended squad of quality players and I believe that we will achieve something special for Australia over the next two weeks.”
Rogic had accepted a call-up to the national team before the squad was announced on Saturday. Sources close to the national team said Rogic contacted Arnold shortly after the announcement,informing the coach of his withdrawal due to a serious matter.
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National team sources said they spent days speaking with Rogic,offering support,assistance and even the option of a later arrival into camp in the hope that he would be available for the play-offs. The sources said Rogic did not provide any further insight into the personal matter he was dealing with,only that it was of a severity that would prevent him from playing in next week’s games.
Professional Footballers Australia,the domestic players’ union,offered their support to Rogic.
Rogic’s absence is a major blow to the Socceroos’ hopes of reaching the 2022 World Cup,with the 29-year-old in top form having played a key role in helping Celtic win the Scottish Premiership. He scored six goals in 29 league games for the Bhoys this season and was named PFA Australian Player of the Year in last week’s Dolan Warren Awards. Rogic left Celtic earlier this month after nine years with the Glasgow giants and is yet to finalise a move to a new club.