Nakata to miss start of training camp prior to Iran clash

Kyodo -Italian first-division club Fiorentina said Tuesday they have rejected a request for an early release of midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata for the national squad's training camp in Germany prior to the World Cup qualifier away to Iran on March 25.
Fiorentina notified the Japan Football Association of their decision not to release Nakata in time to join the start of training Thursday, since it conflicts with the club's Serie A match against Inter Milan on Sunday. Nakata will join the camp from Monday.

The JFA has asked Fiorentina to release Nakata for the match in Tehran and a clash at home to Bahrain on March 30.

Under the regulations set by soccer's world governing body FIFA, foreign teams are allowed to keep Japanese players for club duty through March 20.

Iran are considered Japan's biggest rivals in final-round, four-nation Group B, from which the top two teams qualify directly for next year's World Cup finals in Germany.