Steve Cooper accused over Benjamin Tahirovic omission as Brondby reject sabotage claim | OneFootball

Steve Cooper has been accused by Bosnia and Herzegovina head coach Sergej Barbarez of deliberately leaving out Brondby midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic because of a World Cup play-off, LeicesterMercury.co.uk reports. Brondby have dismissed the claim.

The nations meet in a play-off semi-final in Cardiff on Thursday, with the winners to face Italy or Northern Ireland five days later for a World Cup place.

Barbarez said Tahirovic told him the omission was linked to Cooper's roots, that the coach wished the player but not the national team good luck, and that things would return to normal after the international period. He called the account hard to believe and said he values sport and competition.

Pontypridd-born Cooper, formerly of Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and Swansea, took charge of Brondby in September. He has previously said Tahirovic and Suriname defender Sean Klaiber were left out for failing to live up to club values, while refusing to go into specifics.

Brondby communications director Soren Hanghoj rejected the suggestion, saying the decision on Tahirovic was made by the club in concert with the coaching team and sporting management and was not related to any national side. He added there are not many Wales fans in Brondby.

It is said Cooper has since received a telephone apology for the accusations.

Source: LeicesterMercury.co.uk