For those who think that clubs have no say, in players being available for the AWs in FIFA windows. "You get paid here".
https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/11/12/why-midfielder-ryan-thomas-had-to-withdraw-from-all-whites-squad/
Why midfielder Ryan Thomas had to withdraw from All Whites squadhttps://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/11/12/why-midfielder-ryan-thomas-had-to-withdraw-from-all-whites-squad/
Efforts by All Whites midfielder Ryan Thomas to juggle club and national team commitments have backfired, he says.
Thomas says his eagerness to play for New Zealand and his Dutch club, PEC Zwolle, against rivals NAC Breda led to him glossing over the state of his match fitness.
“I was a bit overworked and should have taken it easier. I didn’t want to miss that NAC night. That set me back.”
Thomas (30), who has overcome a series of long-term injuries, returned from New Zealand’s October games against Poland and Norway, having played in both matches.
“We did a scan to check if anything was wrong. I hardly trained this week, and on Saturday I played while taking pills,” he said.
Thomas, who has 23 caps for the national team, has since withdrawn from the New Zealand squad to face Colombia and Ecuador in the November international window.
Zwolle coach Henry van der Vegt was not happy with the way his captain handled the situation.
“You get paid here,” he said. “I understand he wants to be at the World Cup, but I do have some concerns about him not being able to play for us.
“He finds that very upsetting as well.
“We’re doing everything we can to manage that as best as possible.”