Mark van Bommel will not be allowed to represent Holland at the Olympic Games this summer after his club Bayern Munich refused to release him.

The 30-year-old was hoping to be part of Holland's squad for the Games in Beijing, even though it would mean him missing the start of the 2008/09 Bundesliga season.

German news station n-tv reported Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had called the KNVB to inform them the club would not allow Van Bommel to take part.

Van Bommel would miss the first fortnight of the Bundesliga season as well as some pre-season training were he to travel to Beijing.

He has not represented his country since falling out with national team coach Marco van Basten after the 2006 World Cup.

However, Foppe de Haan, coach of the Under-21s who have qualified for the Games, has left the door open for the Bayern midfielder as one of his over-age choices.

Each country is allowed to name three players over the age of 23.