Brondby manager Steve Cooper has been accused by the Bosnia-Herzegovina head coach of deliberately sidelining one of his players ahead of the World Cup playoffs.
Sergej Barbarez said Bosnia midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic, 23, claimed to have been dropped at Brondby for reasons related to the “roots and origins” of Cooper, who is Welsh.
Wales play Bosnia in Cardiff on Thursday in the semi-final of the playoff, with the winners to host the victors of Italy’s game against Northern Ireland for a place in this summer’s finals.
Cooper has previously said that Tahirovic, considered one of Danish club Brondby’s star players, was dropped along with Sean Klaiber for failing to “live up to the values” of the club — but declined to get into specifics.
In response to Barbarez’s claim, Brondby’s communications director told Danish media that the accusation was “far reaching” and said the decision to drop Tahirovic did not have the “slightest connection with either national team”.
Tahirovic has not been included in Brondby’s starting line-up for their past four matches, and missed out in the squad altogether in their two most recent games before the international break.
He last featured as a 77th-minute substitute in 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 comments, 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 played 44 games for Brondby since his 2024 transfer from Ajax.
Former Nottingham Forest, Leicester and Swansea manager Cooper has been Brondby head coach since his September. His side are currently sixth in the Danish top flight.
