Contract negotiations between the DBU and players, including Christian Eriksen, reached a deadlock.GETTY IMAGES
Denmark named a second-string squad including futsal players for this week's int'l football matches against Slovakia and Wales "after contract negotiations with first-team regulars reached deadlock," according to Emil Gjerding Nielson of REUTERS. If the Danish FA (DBU) had failed to name a squad, "the team could have been thrown out" of Euro 2020. Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet reported the squad includes players from the national futsal team. Denmark is scheduled to play Slovakia in a friendly on Wednesday and Wales in a Nations League group stage match on Sunday. Manager Aage Hareide "will not be in charge of the team as the DBU does not want him to manage a side he did not pick himself." The dispute is "chiefly over the rights of players," including Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen, to make individual sponsorship agreements with companies competing with national team sponsors. The players' traveling conditions "are also an issue" (REUTERS, 9/4). The BBC reported the DBU "had hoped to select Danish lower league players." But Danish Superliga and First Division clubs have not made players available. John Jensen will be the interim manager for this week's matches (BBC, 9/4).
