Popovic tells Socceroos: skip the Jordan trip, no blacklist

Tony Popovic has told his Socceroos squad that anyone who pulls out of next week's friendly against Jordan over security worries will not be punished. The coach said selection decisions made this month will carry no consequences for future camps, clearing the way for players to sit out the trip to Amman.

Australia are in camp in Doha and play Qatar on Saturday before the expected journey to Jordan next Wednesday. Popovic said the plan remains to play both games. Camp. The coach added that the player wellbeing and staff safety is of paramount importance and insisted further talks are necessary before any final decision on the Jordan fixture.

The squad's unease is not hard to trace. Jordan has drawn heightened security concerns after a stabbing in Amman and an attack on an orthodox church in the country's south. DFAT advises Australians to reconsider their need to travel there, citing an unpredictable security situation and the threat of terrorism. Indonesia scrapped a friendly in Jordan this month, and Professional Footballers Australia said the Socceroos players had overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated.

Popovic also confirmed midfield absences. Cardiff's Alex Robertson has withdrawn for personal reasons unrelated to security, while Nashville's Patrick Yazbek is out with an undisclosed injury. Jackson Irvine has been left out after becoming a father for the first time, and back-up goalkeeper Paul Izzo remains in Denmark awaiting the birth of his first child.

Mat Ryan is missing from the national set-up for a second straight international window, raising questions about the veteran goalkeeper's long-term Socceroos future. Popovic said the focus shifted when the Asian Cup moved, and that he wants a look at other keepers. He name-checked Joe Gauci and Tom Glover as options he hasn't seen in a while, and said Ryan understands the call after discussions between the two.

Popovic's own future is in the air too. His contract was set to expire at the end of the Asian Cup, but the tournament's shift to December 2027 pushed that timeline back by 11 months. Reports in England have linked him to the Crystal Palace job. Popovic said both parties are comfortable with how his Socceroos deal is progressing.