Pjanic and Dzeko lead backlash over planned Bosnia friendly with Russia

09-Sep-2022 22:03:24 | The Guardian

Bosnia FA confirms fixture on 19 November in St Petersburg
Dzeko rules himself out of game according to Bosnian media

The Bosnia and Herzegovina men’s national football side are set to play a friendly against Russia in November, sparking fierce criticism from two of the nation’s most high-profile players, Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic.

The game is scheduled to take place in St Petersburg on 19 November, the day before the 2022 World Cup is scheduled to start in Qatar. The Bosnia Football Association announced the fixture on its official website on Friday, but Pjanic, one of the Balkan nation’s best-known players, was quick to make his feelings known.