The Japan Football Association on Tuesday announced the cancellation of Thursday's international friendly between the Samurai Blue and Jamaica after half of the Caribbean nation's players were unable to travel to Japan.
According to JFA President Kozo Tashima, eight of Jamaica's 10 Europe-based players were prevented from boarding their scheduled Sunday flight at Amsterdam's Schiphol International Airport after their negative test certificates were rejected by their airline. Two players whose tests were approved stayed with their teammates.
"We decided it would not be appropriate to hold the Kirin Challenge Cup with one team only having 10 players," Tashima told a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.