Denmark's Euro 2020 campaign at risk due to player contract row involving stars such as Christian Eriksen

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Wales face the bizarre prospect of playing a Denmark team of unknowns in Aarhus next week because of a dispute between the players and the Danish Football Association (DBU).

An ugly row over commercial rights is unresolved and the DBU are now looking at using lower league players for their upcoming Nations League clash against Ryan Giggs’ side.

It means the stars who reached the World Cup’s last 16, including Christian Eriksen, Andreas Christensen and Kasper Schmeichel, are not in line to feature against Wales on September 9.

Denmark players such as Christian Eriksen are involved in a dispute over sponsorship agreements with companies competing with national team sponsors

As well as their competitive fixture against Wales, Denmark are supposed to face Slovakia in a friendly this Wednesday, but they find themselves in a remarkable stand-off.

In a statement on the BBC yesterday, the DBU’s chief executive officer Claus Bretton-Meyer said Danish football faces returning ‘to the stone age’ if the fixtures are abandoned.

‘It is a deeply regrettable situation we are in both for the team, fans and for all in Danish football,’ said Bretton-Meyer. ‘We had hoped that the players would meet when we offered them the same fee, bonus, paid insurance and better flight, cook and treatment conditions.

‘Now we are working to get the best possible players to play the two matches for Denmark. It is crucial for the future of Danish football.

‘If the games are not played, we may be fighting millions in fines and exclusions for both national teams – and Danish football will be returned to the stone age in many areas.’

Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen was named in the original Denmark squad

On Sunday, the DBU turned down an offer by the Danish Football Players' Association (Spillerforeningen) to play the two fixtures under the terms of their previous deal.

The governing body is now searching for players from their domestic clubs in the Danish Superliga and First Division to put together a new squad for Slovakia then Wales.

Denmark risk being handed a ban by UEFA if they fail to fulfil either of the fixtures.