Ukraine football icon insists Scotland and Wales should step aside to pave the way for World Cup place

Dyanmo Kyiv manager Mircea Lucescu believes Scotland should step aside and allow Ukraine free qualification to the World Cup.

Scotland are due to face the war-torn nation in June in the playoff semi after the original date last month was postponed until the summer. The winners of the tie will face Wales in the final in Cardiff.

Ukraine's players, manager and football association president have all lined up to insist they have no interest in football charity by being granted a bye to the finals in Qatar later this year.

However, that hasn't stopped a growing clamour to persuade Scotland and Wales to step aside as a gesture of goodwill.

And the oldest working manager in world football, Kyiv boss Lucescu, has now weighed in with his demands.

The 76-year old Romanian said: "We have now managed to bring 11 members of the Dynamo Kyiv squad to Romania, many of whom are in the national team.

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"They received a special permit from the Ukrainian government making them exempt from national service and were allowed to leave the country.

"And now is a chance for football to show their support for Ukraine too.

"Allowing Ukraine a free passage through the play-offs directly to the World Cup would be an enormous