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TOKYO, June 30 (Reuters) - Disgraced footballer Yoshito Okubo's chances of redemption at the Beijing Olympics look to be over after he was left out of the team's preliminary squad.
Okubo, recently banned for three games after being sent off in a World Cup qualifier, had been offered an olive branch by the Japan Football Association (JFA).
The 26-year-old had looked set to fill one of the three "over-age" spots for August's under-23 Olympic competition but was left out of Japan's 20-man squad on Monday following resistance from his J-League club Vissel Kobe.
Full international regular Yasuhito Endo will also play in Beijing, although Olympic coach Yasuharu Sorimachi is unlikely to pick a third over-age player.
Sorimachi's side have been drawn alongside the Netherlands, the United States and Nigeria in Group B of the 16-team Olympic competition.
Japan last won an Olympic medal in men's soccer at the 1968 Mexico Olympics where they finished third. This year's tournament takes place from Aug. 6-23.
