Serbia & Montenegro are on the verge of a crisis just three weeks away from the start of the European Championships.

It has emerged that coach Dusko Vujosevic, already short of big men for tournament, sent centre Dejan Koturovic home after the recent friendly against Greece because of a bust-up that occurred on the bench during the game.

Koturovic is astounded that he has been dropped.

"The incident happened at the start of second half of our game against Greece," said Koturovic.

"Vujosevic objected after I took a shot from a position that is not "part of my job".

"That’s what he told me when I sat down on the bench. I expressed a different opinion and the conflict started. As it usually is, from a small thing something big can happen and we exchanged harsh words.

"Immediately after the game, I apologised to the whole national team because I understood that it could affect our excellent atmosphere. But, suddenly, Vujosevic told me that I wouldn’t be in the national team any more. I simply couldn't believe it!"

Vujosevic took the decision, despite being short of bodies in the frontcourt.

He lost Nenad Krstic to a foot injury last week and there is also uncertainty about the fitness of Dejan Milojevic and Dragan Tarlac.

Even before the tournament started, three recent NBA draft picks told Vujosevic that they would not be available.

The Phoenix Suns' Zarko Cabarkapa, Aleksandar Pavlovic of the Utah Jazz and Detroit Piston Darko Milicic each decided it was more important to put their energies into training to get ready for their rookie NBA campaigns.

"Koturovic refused to do something that I wanted from him, and I decided to exclude him from our national team," said Vujosevic.

"It is well known that we are under enormous pressure because of everything that has happened in recent weeks, but there must be some self-control when hard situations come.

"From the beginning of preparations, I've tried to build-up real 'spirit of team’, as I've said to my players that only hard work can bring us success.

"My decision about Koturovic was a good one, as I wanted, and still want, to save our team's order.

"It is a fact that we have big problems with centres, but that doesn't mean that players can do whatever they want."

To replace Koturovic, Vujosevic has called up Partizan Belgrade’s 27-year-old centre Djuro Ostojic.

"We needed someone who is positive and with good character," Vujosevic said, "someone who will view receiving a call to the national team as a big privilege and honour.

"Djuro Ostojic is the right man, I'm sure. He is well aware of his own capabilities, he knows how good he can be and what his limits are, and I must repeat - he was the best solution for us in this moment."