BOSNIAN media have ignited a controversy after claiming that an Italian soldier was sent to spy on their national team’s training.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team are set to host Italy on Tuesday for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
And as tensions rise for the fixture, a strange twist emerged after a soldier with the European Union Force (EUFOR) in the nation was accused of spying on the hosts’ preparations.
Local media reported that the soldier, believed to be Italian, was spotted filming the training session at their base in Butmir on Sunday.
The session was open to the public for the opening 15 minutes, but the viewer is said to have stuck around long beyond that, gaining the attention of Bosnia staff.
Bosnian outlet SportSport claimed the presence of the soldier was a direct attempt by Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy side to gain insight into the team’s plans ahead of their clash.
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The outlet also reported that the Bosnian FA had gone so far as to submit a complaint to EUFOR in the country directly about the conduct.
As of now there is no evidence to suggest that the onlooker was affiliated with the Italian national team, with SportMediaset reporting that he was simply a fan observing the session.
It is not the first time the Bosnia hierarchy have thrown up accusations of sabotage during the World Cup qualifier play-offs.
The outfit beat Craig Bellamy‘s Wales in the semi-final last week, but not before accusing another Welsh boss of trying to rattle them.
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Bosnia manager Sergej Barbarez complained that Welshman and former Prem boss Steve Cooper could be deliberately not playing Bosnian international Benjamin Tahirovic for his Brondby side to give Wales a leg up.
Tahirovic had not played for the Danish side in 39 days ahead of the qualifier clash, which the national team manager clearly took issue with.
Barbarez said last week: “Yesterday, Benjo told me what’s been going on, and there are some things you just can’t believe — things involving his coach and his ethnic background.
“When a coach tells a player that he wishes him luck personally, but not his national team, it really gives you a lot to think about.
“He also let him know that after this international break, he’ll be back in the [Brondby] squad and in contention to play.
“Just so you understand the scale of it – nowadays, things are being handled based on who is who and where they come from. I’m not like that.
“I prefer sports and the purely competitive side of the game, but I believe Benjo’s motivation 1774909515 will be even greater than usual.”
The stakes are just as high for Italy, who could secure their first World Cup spot in twelve years should they avoid an upset loss.
