Steve Cooper: Brondby manager accused of dropping player ahead of Wales’ match

Brondby’s Welsh boss Steve Cooper has been accused of dropping Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic as Wales are facing them on Thursday in a World Cup play-off semi-final.

Bosnia-Herzegovina manager Sergej Barbarez made the claim, which has been denied by the Danish club.

Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina meet at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday with a home play-off final against Italy or Northern Ireland to follow for the winner, on Tuesday, 31 March.

Barbarez told a press conference on Monday that former Swansea City boss Cooper had left Tahirovic out of their two most recent games because of Thursday’s qualifier.

Barbarez said: “Benjo has told me some things that are hard to believe. 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.

“He (Cooper) has told him that everything will return to normal after the national team season.

“I am not like that, I love and value sport and competition more.”

Cooper, who was born in the south Wales town Pontypridd is also a former Leicester and Nottingham Forest boss.

In the past Cooper dropped Tahirovic and Suriname defender Sean Klaiber, saying they had failed to “live up to the values” of the club.

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.

“Steve has publicly stated the considerations behind the decision – and none of them have the slightest connection with either national team. That goes without saying.

“It is not just a head coach who is the sponsor of a decision like the one in question here.

“It is a club decision that has been made jointly by an entire coaching team and the sporting management.

“And there are not that many Wales fans in Brondby after all.”