Brondby manager Steve Cooper has been accused of dropping Benjamin Tahirovic, a Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder, before Wales play Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup qualifying play-off on Thursday.
Bosnia-Herzegovina manager Sergej Barbarez made the claim, which has been denied by the Danish club.
Wales are due to play Bosnia-Herzegovina at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday.
Barbarez’s Allegations Against Cooper
Barbarez told a press conference on Monday that Cooper, the former Swansea City boss, had left Tahirovic out of their two most recent games because of Thursday’s qualifier.
Barbarez said that Benjo had told him some things that are hard to believe and that it has something to do with his coach’s origin.
“When your coach wishes you, but not your national team, good luck, it leaves room for thought,” Barbarez stated.
Barbarez added that Cooper had told Tahirovic that everything will return to normal after the national team season.
“I am not like that, I love and value sport and competition more,” said Barbarez.
Cooper, who is also a former Leicester and Nottingham Forest boss, was born in Pontypridd.
Brondby’s Response to the Accusations
Brondby’s communications director Soren Hanghoj refuted Barbarez’s claim and said the player’s omission was a “club decision”.
“This is quite a far-reaching speculation,” Hanghoj said.
Hanghoj stated that Steve has publicly stated the considerations behind the decision and that none of them have the slightest connection with either national team, which goes without saying.
“It is not just a head coach who is the sponsor of a decision like the one in question here,” Hanghoj added.
Hanghoj clarified that it is a club decision that has been made jointly by an entire coaching team and the sporting management and that there are not that many Wales fans in Brondby after all.
In the past Cooper dropped Tahirovic and Suriname defender Sean Klaiber, saying they had failed to “live up to the values” of the club.
The winner of Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina will play a home play-off final against Italy or Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 31 March.