Lyngby hopes dashed

Lyngby FC's hopes of fielding old boys Henrik Larsen, Flemming Christensen and Michael Laudrup in Saturday's Superligaen clash against AGF Århus have been thwarted.

Penniless club
The penniless Danish club have been forced to sell off their professional players and fulfil their fixtures with amateurs after club members voted last week against a merger with FC Farum and instead elected to go into bankruptcy.

DBU statement
The plan to field the former international stars was rejected by the Danish Football Association (DBU), which said in a statement on Thursday: "A narrow majority on the board rejected FC Lyngby's request for dispensation to allow three former players to participate in their Sunday away match against AGF Aarhus."

Larsen coaching
In the case of Larsen, the DBU was concerned that the player did not fulfil the necessary amateur status. The 35-year-old is coach at second division Olstykke and so receives an income from a registered club. Christensen would have become the oldest ever outfield player in the Superligaen at 43. Laudrup was not formally approached by the club.

Spokesman comments
Lyngby spokesman Christian Nielsen had said before the DBU's decision: "We have asked the DBU for special permission, even though Henrik has a coaching post. At the moment I think it is 50-50."