Midfielder is not going to play for Honduras
Six weeks after Andy Najar pledged his international soccer allegiance to his native Honduras, a communication breakdown between D.C. United and the Honduran federation cost the 18-year-old midfielder a chance to represent the country of his birth for the first time.
Najar was left off the Honduran roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June and instead will remain with United.
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| Ajax at D.C. United |
| When » Sunday, 5 p.m. |
| Where » RFK Stadium |
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Najar had been in Honduras’ original plans, and by FIFA rules United would have had to release him at the beginning of next week. When D.C. United received the official player request from the Honduran federation, general manager Dave Kasper said the team answered, hoping to negotiate Najar’s availability for two D.C. United matches before the Gold Cup. At the very least, United hoped to have him for a May 29 game at Portland, after which United defender Dejan Jakovic, who is playing in the Gold Cup for Canada, will join his national team.
Kasper said he heard no word from the Honduran federation until it accused United of not responding to its initial request for Najar, which United denied. Kasper said United was informed late Thursday that Najar was likely to be omitted.
“If they want Andy on the 26th, they can have Andy on the 26th,” Kasper said. “We just put a request in. This is normal communication. For the last 10 years, I’ve never had someone from a federation speak out and say we never responded. We always respond immediately, and we discuss the situation. Each call-up is unique.”
Shortly before the Honduran roster was announced Friday, Najar tweeted in Spanish: “I’m going to continue working hard for D.C. United. Good luck to Honduras in the Gold Cup.”
“It’s an opportunity lost for whatever reason,” said Chris Megaloudis, Najar’s agent. “I hope going forward club and country are able to work through whatever issues they may have with one another. I respect that Andy’s an important player for both teams, more so D.C. right now because he’s yet to be involved in the national team. But I know he would do a good job for the national team as well. It would’ve been a great event for him to play in and I think a great showcase for D.C. United as well.”
