Ukraine's new preparations for their World Cup tie in Scotland have been thrown into complete disarray after Dynamo Kyiv refused to release their players for their month-long camp because they want them to take part in charity matches instead.
Steve Clarke's Scotland face the war-torn nation on June 1 after the original semi-final playoff was postponed from March.
Ukraine confirmed last week they will prepare for the game at the Slovenian FA national training centre and announced a 25-man squad based on domestic players, which included 12 from Dynamo Kyiv.
But they've been left stunned after Kyiv announced they won't release their players until May 23 at the earliest – just a week before they play at Hampden – because they need the players for a series of charity friendlies they are playing across Europe in a decision made by their 76-year-old manager Mircea Lucescu.
Dynamo Kyiv president Igor Surkis explained: "We made the decision after discussion with our manager Mircea Lucescu.
"He believes the national team would get more benefit if the players stayed with us and played in matches instead of going to the training camp.
"I don't see any problem. We will release the players in accordance with FIFA's rules.
"I call on the football community to respect each other without hysteria and speculation."
However, the decision has caused outrage in Ukraine with former national team manager Myron Markevich furious.
He raged: "This is madness. Why has Lucescu been allowed to decide what is best for our country? He is Romanian.
"Our aim is to get the national team to Qatar and they have been let down by this incredibly selfish decision.
"Dynamo's footballers should decide, not Lucescu.
"I urge Dynamo players to give up everything and go to the national team for the start of the training camp if they really love Ukraine and want to go to the World Cup."
