This is a bizarre situation.
Danish football has been thrown into turmoil over a dispute regarding players’ commercial rights. Denmark’s players, such as Cristian Eriksen and Kasper Schmeichel, have been involved in the dispute with the Danish Football Association and the two parties have failed to reach a compromise.
So, the Danish FA has taken drastic action. Denmark have named a squad of amateur and semi-professional players, as well as some futsal players, for a friendly against Slovakia on Wednesday and their Uefa Nations League tie against Wales on Sunday.
As it currently stands, Denmark’s professional players will take no part in the matches. Age Hareide, the Denmark manager, also won’t be involved in the games and has been told to stay at home. Former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen will take charge for the fixtures.
If Denmark did not field a team against Wales in the Nations League game, they risked being expelled from qualification for Euro 2020.
Eriksen had called for a truce. He said he and his teammates would play the two matches under the old terms of the commercial rights agreement, but a resolution still hasn’t been found.
“We have to solve this conflict now, not just digging the ditches deeper,” the Tottenham midfielder said.
“Let’s renew the old deal by one month. Then we have organised relationships right now and we are prepared to play the international matches this week. Sign up and we will sit on the plane immediately. We are ready and we will play.”
The Republic of Ireland will play Denmark in October in a Nations League match in Dublin, by which time the dispute may be resolved. If not, Denmark are unlikely to beat Ireland 5-1 again.
Here's the final selection for Denmark vs. Slovakia. All amateurs/Semi-pro's. pic.twitter.com/6izlfVmDEC
— DanishFooty (@DanishFooty) September 4, 2018
