Honduras Coach Blasts FIFA Over Punishing Playoff Schedule

Honduras coach Jorge Luis Pinto has criticised world football’s governing body, FIFA,  over the short period between matches in their two-legged World Cup qualifying playoff with Australia.

Both teams face a cruel schedule with no direct flights between Honduras and Australia meaning that they have to face journeys of about 24 hours. The two matches of the play-off tie are just five days apart.

While speaking on the schedule,  Pinto said: “It’s inhumane of Fifa to put the dates so close with such a long trip in between them.”

The Honduran team will fly from San Pedro Sula to Los Angeles’ LAX airport for about seven hours before flying to Sydney for 15 hours. Including transfer time, the whole journey will take close to 24 hours and cover 10,866 miles.