After stormy reactions, the man who decided with his vote that the national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina should accept Russia’s invitation to play a friendly match, Fuad Čolpa, said that he will ask for the cancellation of the match.
However, this did not disprove what had been rumored until now, and after this decision it became clear – that the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the grip of politics. Whether this match was played or not, by confirming that the match was arranged, those who wanted to harm this national team, as well as the country, achieved their goal.
Although, officially, UEFA has nothing to do with friendly matches, the key lies in the answer to the question – is it moral in a situation when the whole world condemns the Russian aggression against Ukraine to even consider, let alone officially arrange a match? How deeply did the politicians from the RS, led by the SNSD, dominate the state Football Association through Vica Zeljković?
Sports games in the pre-election period. While the world is showing solidarity and increasing pressure on Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine, athletes are also under the attack of sanctions. At the same time, a friendly match between BiH and Russia is scheduled. More than the decision of the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is more shocking how it followed. Sport also shook Bosnia and Herzegovina. political terrain – and at the highest level. Željko Komšić reacted harshly in the media: “That match will not be played”.
Others did not hesitate to call BiH national team members not to respond to the invitation to the match, calling it an unprecedented scandal. Not only because of Russia’s war activities in the sovereign Ukraine, but also because of the threatening messages of the Russian ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has accepted an offer to play an international friendly match with Russia, according to the Association’s official website.
Namely, the invitation for the match between the national teams of the two countries was sent by the Football Federation of Russia.
“The match will be played in Saint Petersburg, on November 19th,” it is stated on the official website of the Football Association of BiH.
Irfan Duric, vice-president of the Football Association of BiH, thinks that this decision is not the best option for BiH.
Sports journalist Bakir Tiro says that the decision of the Football Association of BiH is one of a series of “reckless moves” that can have far-reaching consequences.
“This looks to me like a certain pre-election trick of certain political parties in BiH that are very close, that is, even connected by nepotism to the very top of the association and its president. I can’t believe that they managed to do it, because Russia is suspended from the world and European football federations,” told Tiro.
He also believes that this decision could lead to a split in the BiH national team, and that this is certain.
Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24th, the Russian national team and all football clubs, men’s and women’s, have been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions.
Russia also lost the right to run as host of the upcoming international championships. Similar measures for Russian clubs and the national team have been introduced in other sports as well, Radio Slobodna Evropa writes.
