Brondby supervisor Steve Cooper has been accused by the Bosnia-Herzegovina head coach of intentionally sidelining one of his gamers forward of the World Cup playoffs.
Sergej Barbarez stated Bosnia midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic, 23, claimed to have been dropped at Brondby for causes associated to the “roots and origins” of Cooper, who’s Welsh.
Wales play Bosnia in Cardiff on Thursday within the semi-final of the playoff, with the winners to host the victors of Italy’s sport towards Northern Ireland for a spot on this summer season’s finals.
Cooper has previously said that Tahirovic, thought-about one of Danish membership Brondby’s star gamers, was dropped together with Sean Klaiber for failing to “live up to the values” of the membership — however declined to get into specifics.
In response to Barbarez’s declare, Brondby’s communications director told Danish media that the accusation was “far reaching” and stated the choice to drop Tahirovic didn’t have the “slightest connection with either national team”.
Tahirovic has not been included in Brondby’s beginning line-up for his or her previous 4 matches, and missed out within the squad altogether of their two most up-to-date video games earlier than the worldwide break.
He final featured as a 77th-minute substitute within the 0-0 draw with Midtjylland on March 1.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Barbarez said: “Benjo has told me some things that are hard to believe. It has something to do with his coach’s roots and origins.
“When your coach wishes you, but not your national team, good luck, everything is much clearer.
“He (Cooper) has told him that everything will return to normal after the national team season. I am not like that, I love and value sport and competition more.”
Responding to Barbarez’s feedback, Soren Hanghoj, Brondby’s communications chief, told Danish TV station TV 2 Sport: “This is quite a far-reaching speculation. Steve has publicly stated the considerations behind the decision — and none of them have the slightest connection with either national team. That goes without saying.
“It is not just a head coach who is the sponsor of a decision like the one in question here. It is a club decision that has been made jointly by an entire coaching team and the sporting management. And there are not that many Wales fans in Brondby after all.”
Tahirovic has scored twice in 24 appearances for Bosnia, and has performed 44 video games for Brondby since his 2024 switch from Ajax.
Former Nottingham Forest, Leicester and Swansea supervisor Cooper has been Brondby head coach since his September. His facet are presently sixth within the Danish prime flight.
