Local Bosnian media have raised concerns, alleging that an Italian individual was observed “spying” during a training session of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team. These accusations surface just before their critical World Cup play-off match against Italy.
Crucial World Cup Play-off Nears
The highly anticipated fixture, which will determine a spot in the 2026 World Cup (to be hosted in Canada, Mexico, and USA), is scheduled for Tuesday at 19:45 UK time. The match will take place at Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica, with the winner decided after 90 minutes, extra time, or even a penalty shoot-out. Given the high stakes, every detail is considered crucial.
Local newspaper Klixba specifically reported that an alleged Italian spy was seen filming players at the training ground, even after the initial 15 minutes that were open to the public.
However, Italian media outlet Sportmediaset quickly responded, clarifying that the individual in question was not a spy but rather an Italian soldier. His military base is situated near the training facility, and he had simply wandered over to observe the session. Sportmediaset emphasized that this soldier had no affiliation with the Italian national team or its coach, Gennaro Gattuso, and therefore did not transmit any sensitive information regarding the Bosnian squad’s strategies.
