Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic furious as Bosnia arrange absurd friendly with Russia
Bosnian internationals Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic have been left seething over the decision from their nation's football association to face Russia in a friendly
Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic have been left outraged over the decision from the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina to play against Russia in a friendly one day before the Qatar World Cup kicks off.
The contest is scheduled to take place St Petersburg on November 19. Neither of the two nations will participate in the World Cup as Bosnia failed to qualify and Russia were banned from participating following the country's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
Former Manchester City striker Dzeko made his feelings on the fixture crystal clear while speaking to Bosnian outlet Klix. "I am against the playing of this match! I am always and only for peace," the Inter Milan star explained.
"The association knows my opinion! Unfortunately, I am not the one who makes the decisions with whom Bosnia and Herzegovina will play, but I have my position which is clear and which does not include playing this match, while innocent people are suffering. I stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine in these difficult times for them."
Dzeko's sentiments were echoed by his international teammate Pjanic, who is firmly against the idea of lining up against Russia. "The decision is not good. I am speechless,' the ex-Barcelona midfielder is reported to have said by Bosnian media. "In the national Football Association, they know what I think."
Pjanic is widely regarded as one of the finest players Bosnia have ever produced, having made 107 appearances for the national side. Therefore, his opinion and voice carries significant weight and his opposition to the game may be a cause for concern for the Bosnian FA.
Even Benjamina Karic, mayor of Bosnia's capital city Sarajevo, has spoken out against the decision to make the trip to Russia to play the game.
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Taking to twitter, she wrote: "Sarajevo as the city which has been under the longest siege from aggressors and me as a mayor strongly condemn the decision by the national Football Association to play a friendly match with Russia."
Karic even went on to claim that unless the game is called off, the government have threatened to end their close working relationship with the Bosnian FA. "Unless the decision is reversed, we will cease cooperation with the Football Association, which so far has been fruitful," the mayor added.
Other European nations such as Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic previously refused to play their World Cup qualifiers against Russia before they were eventually banned from participating in the competition by FIFA. A joint statement from the global governing body and UEFA read: "Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.
