Dutch first-division club Feyenoord has refused to release Japan international midfielder Shinji Ono for the Asian champions' upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Bahrain, the Japan Football Association (JFA) said Thursday.
Japan coach Zico on Monday named Ono among six European-based players to the squad that will face Iran in Tehran on March 25 and Bahrain at home five days later.
But Feyenoord said in a document sent to the JFA it is not willing to release the player for either of the crunch Group B matches as he is "still in a recovery period after undergoing surgery on his ankle" at the end of last year.
The JFA sent a written counterargument to Feyenoord, pointing out that Ono started and scored the opening goal in his side's 4-1 win against Roda JC on Sunday and will demand that in line with FIFA regulations Ono be released four days before the Iran game.
"Hopefully my club and the JFA will be able to sort things out," said Ono, adding that he had not spoken to Feyenoord officials regarding the matter.