Vidal sent home from Chile squad

Juventus star Arturo Vidal will not play in Chile’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, after he and four others were sent home from their camp.

Vidal, Jorge Valdivia, Jean Beausejour, Gonzalo Jara and Carlos Carmona were all shown the door on Wednesday after turning up 45 minutes late for the Roja training session under manager Claudio Borghi, according to Radio Cooperativa.

The report claims the quintet had attended the baptism of Valdivia’s son the previous evening and continued celebrating after the service.

Further rumours suggest that the punishment was not simply for turning up late, but related to the unprofessional state in which Vidal and company attended the session.

The news is a massive blow to Chile’s hopes in this week’s World Cup qualifiers, where they will face Uruguay in Montevideo before hosting Paraguay.

The search has already begun for replacements, with Universidad Catolica trio Francisco Silva, Felipe Gutierrez and Fernando Meneses tipped to come into the squad for Friday’s fixture.