Scotland boss Steve Clarke believes it could take another six months before he discovers if his side will face Ukraine in a World Cup play-off.
The two nations were meant to meet in a semi-final showdown at Hampden on Thursday night with a place at Qatar 2022 on the line.
But the game was postponed until June after Vladimir Putin’s war machine crossed the border to unleash death and destruction on their neighbours.
And, with the situation on the ground deteriorating by the day, Clarke now admits it’s becoming almost inconceivable that the Ukrainians will be ready, willing or able to play a game of football when the current season comes to a conclusion.
Asked yesterday if Scotland might be kept waiting until August or September before discovering if the qualifier can go ahead Clarke - whose side face a fundraiser against Poland instead - said: “Yes. That’s the easiest way to say it, yes.
“We have to be guided by FIFA, UEFA and most importantly by Ukraine themselves.
“If you look at it and you’re honest about the situation now then, yes. It’s difficult to see how we’ll be playing them in June and it’s not just about the fixture, it’s the fact that they need to get together, have a training camp and get all their players on the pitch with a proper period of time to prepare for such an important game.
“Andriy Shevchenko, who I know from my time at Chelsea, spoke quite well about the situation and said they would want to play on the pitch. But the way the situation is I think they should get as much time as possible to try to make that game happen - Scotland against Ukraine at Hampden.”
Clarke expects further talks to take place next month regarding the fixture but insists Scotland will not make any demands for a quick answer as a humanitarian disaster unfolds on European soil.
He went on: “I would imagine everyone is waiting until this round of matches is out of the way and then see how the situation develops. But, obviously, it’s not looking great at this moment.
“If you’re asking me now will the game go ahead in June then it’s going to be difficult. But it’s a situation we can’t control so I’ll focus on these two friendlies and make sure we get something out of the games in this camp.
“Then, maybe in April, we can all sit down together, look at the schedule and how it’s going to pan out for us.
“It’s just a horrible, horrible situation and the quicker we know we’re going to play Ukraine at Hampden the better because it will mean the war has stopped and we’re all trying to move forward again.
“We have to be guided by other people and hope and pray that the situation improves enough for the fixture to go ahead at some time.”
Scotland face the Poles at Hampden with £10 from every ticket sold going to bolster UNICEF’s campaign to save lives in the face of Russia’s invasion.
On Tuesday, Clarke’s side will then travel to face the loser of the other play-off semi between Austria and Wales.
But the Scotland manager’s hopes of seeing new boy Aaron Hickey in a dark blue shirt for the first time have been hindered by illness after the Bologna youngster was floored by a mystery bug at the squad’s Edinburgh base.
Clarke said: “It’s not Covid. We tested him straight away and it was negative. He just felt a bit under the weather when he got up this morning. The doc had a look and decided it would be better for him not to train.
“We’ll see how he is tomorrow and I’m pretty hopeful he’ll at least be ready for a place on the bench. That would be nice.
“But it’s just good to make him feel part of it and get him involved. That’s been the main aim with Aaron in this camp.”
