Legendary Romanian manager Mircea Lucescu has branded clubs like Rangers' stance on the Olympic Games "disgraceful" as a host of star names look unlikely to be released by their club for Tokyo this summer.
The Scottish Premiership winners are said to be denying a request to release Ianis Hagi to join Romania's squad for the 32nd Olympiad.
That's because he would miss some vital Champions League qualifiers should his country make it to the semi-finals of the tournament.
The Olympics do not fall under FIFA's jurisdiction and so clubs are not obligated to allow players to take part.
Slavia Prague's Nicolae Stanciu, Inter Milan's Ionut Radu and Cagliari's Razvan Marin also reportedly being denied the chance to play in the competition, which was delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lucescu, who won eight Ukrainian titles at Shakhtar Donetsk before crossing the country's big divide to win another at Dynamo Kiev last season, has slammed the decision and urged clubs to reconsider their "unacceptable" stance.
"It is completely unacceptable for clubs to refuse to allow Romanian players to compete at the Olympic Games," the former Romania boss said.
"Do they not understand participation in the Olympic Games raises the value of the players? It's really disgraceful.
"I have 11 players at Dynamo Kiev who are in the national team of Ukraine. It's something extraordinary and I am very proud they are able to play for their country."
