Xuenou > Editor's Picks > Australia manager leaves his own 58-time capped son-in-law out of World Cup squad
Australia manager leaves his own 58-time capped son-in-law out of World Cup squad
Australia manager Graham Arnold has opted to leave his own son-in-law, Trent Sainsbury, out of the 26-man squad for the World Cup as the side gear up for their trip to Qatar later this month

Australia manager leaves his own 58-time capped son-in-law out of World Cup squad

Australia manager Graham Arnold has made the shock decision to leave out his own son-in-law for the 26-man squad for the World Cup.

The boss deemed that his family member, Trent Sainsbury, was not up to standards despite him having clocked 58 caps for his national side in the last eight years.

Arnold announced the team he would be taking to Qatar on Monday – and the omission of Sainsbury, who is a centre-back for Qatari side Al-Wakrah, has shocked many.

READ MORE: Sepp Blatter admits Qatar was a 'mistake' – and has criticism of new FIFA head

Sainsbury has been married to Arnold's daughter, Elissa, for five years and they even have two daughters together.

The coach spoke about his selection at a press conference on Monday: "Obviously it was a very, very difficult decision," the 59-year-old said to reporters. "I've spoken to Trent about where he's at right now. He's not played for a number of weeks, obviously, he's here in Qatar.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Graham Arnold speaks with the media during a Socceroos squad announcement and press conference at Dexus Place on September 14, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
Graham Arnold left out his daughter's husband for the World Cup (Image: Getty Images)

"Overall I've gone for players like Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles who've done exceptionally well and continue to do well.

“Trent was very understanding of the situation but it's a decision that, again, is hard to make. We went for four-and-a-half centre-backs, I say half because Thomas Deng can play centre-back and right-back. We need to be adaptable."

The 30-year-old Sainsbury has enjoyed a decent career in Europe and beyond, playing for the likes of Serie A giants Inter Milan, formidable Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven, and PEC Zwolle.

A collective protest from the Socceroos
A collective protest from the Socceroos

It comes after the Socceroos issued a statement of protest over the human rights record of Qatar following harrowing reports of the country’s workers in the buildup to the competition.

Some 16 players delivered a message, highlighting the 'suffering' of migrant workers and the treatment of those in the LGBT community.

“There are universal values that should define football values such as respect, dignity, trust, and courage. When we represent our nation, we aspire to embody these values,” the players said in the impassioned footage.

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