Bosnian National Team Will Face Russia In Friendship Match, Dzeko And Pjaniccam Even Mau Memboycott

Bosnian national team. (Photo: Twitter @NFSBiH)

JAKARTA - The Bosnian Football Federation (NFSBiH) made a surprising decision. They accepted the offer to hold a friendly match against Russia.

The NFSBiH's decision angered several of its star players. In fact, Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic threatened to boycott the match.

It is planned that the Bosnian national team will play a friendly match against Russia in St Petersburg on November 19. The match will take place at the World Cup, because both teams did not qualify.

However, it is certain that Dzeko will not be there to take part in the Bosnian national team match. He opposed it because Russia was currently suspended from the FIFA and UEFA competition indefinitely following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"I'm against this game! I'm always and just playing for peace. The association knows my opinion!" he told Klix.

"Unfortunately, I'm not the one making decisions with whom Bosnia and Herzegovina will play, but I have a clear position and that doesn't include playing this game, while innocent people suffer."

"I stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in these difficult times for them," he continued.

Pjanic, who left Barcelona for Sharjah FC earlier this week, agreed with his compatriot. According to him, the decision was a big mistake.

"I can't speak. At the National Football Association, they know what I'm thinking," he said.

Russia has not played since it lost 1-0 to Croatia on November 14 last year.

Before Russia was sanctioned by FIFA, there were several countries that had refused to compete with them. Among them are Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic who all refused to play against Russia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.