Former Nottingham Forest and present Brondby boss Steve Cooper has been accused of dropping Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic forward of the nation’s World Cup playoff semi-final conflict with Wales on Thursday.
Wales-born Cooper, supervisor of the Danish membership since September 2025, was accused by Bosnia and Herzegovina head coach Sergej Barbarez, who claimed that Tahirovic’s absence “has one thing to do with his coach’s origin”.
Wales host Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Cardiff Metropolis Stadium on Thursday with a house play-off ultimate towards Italy or Northern Eire awaiting the winner subsequent Tuesday.
Barbarez’s declare has has been denied by the Danish membership.
In a press convention on Monday, the Bosnia boss mentioned: “Benjo has instructed me some issues which might be exhausting to imagine. It has one thing to do together with his coach’s origin.
“When your coach needs you, however not your nationwide staff, good luck, it leaves room for thought.
“He [Cooper] has instructed him that all the pieces will return to regular after the nationwide staff season.
“I’m not like that, I really like and worth sport and competitors extra.”
‘Far-reaching hypothesis’
Soren Hanghoj, Brondby’s communications director, has refuted Barbarez’s declare and mentioned the participant’s omission was a “membership determination”.
Hanghoj mentioned: “That is fairly a far-reaching hypothesis.
“Steve has publicly acknowledged the issues behind the choice – and none of them have the slightest reference to both nationwide staff. That goes with out saying.
“It’s not only a head coach who’s the sponsor of a choice just like the one in query right here.
“It’s a membership determination that has been made collectively by a complete teaching staff and the sporting administration.
“And there are usually not that many Wales followers in Brondby in any case.”
