Steve Cooper accused of dropping key player on purpose ahead of Wales’ World Cup play-off

Steve Cooper has been accused of dropping a Brondby player on purpose by Bosnia-Herzegovina manager Sergej Barbez.

The former Premier League boss opted not to play Bosnian midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic ahead of the World Cup play-offs, where Bosnia face Wales.

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And for making that decision, Cooper, who is Welsh, has taken some flak from Barbez before the crucial Thursday night meeting.

Craig Bellamy‘s Dragons take on Bosnia in their play-off semi-final with only the winning team keeping their hopes of playing at the World Cup this summer alive.

But their manager thinks that Cooper has now done his nation a favour by reducing the minutes of one of his key players at Brondby.

The ex-Nottingham Forest and Leicester City boss hasn’t selected Tahirovic to start any of his side’s last four matches, with the 23-year-old not making the squad at all in the previous two.

That led to Barbez saying in a press conference on Monday: “Benjo has told me some things that are hard to believe. It has something to do with his coach’s roots and origins.

“When your coach wishes you, but not your national team, good luck, everything is much clearer.

“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.”

talkSPORT has contacted Cooper’s representatives for comment about Barbez’s claims.

Tahirovic, who has 24 caps for Bosnia, is considered a star player for Brondby, but has been regularly left out by Cooper. However, the 46-year-old has previously explained the decision – and it’s nothing to do with the fact he will be facing Wales.

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What has Cooper said?

Cooper explained why he had been leaving Tahirovic out of his Brondby squad in recent weeks when speaking on March 19.

And it appears to be in regard to a disciplinary problem.

He said to Danish outlet TV 2 Sport: “It’s a shame. Such situations are never good, but unfortunately, it’s the right thing to do.

“The team, the club, the traditions and the values ​​are always the most important thing.

“I’m not going to go into it more specifically on a personal level.

“But when you see things that don’t live up to the values ​​and the team, you have to do something about it.”

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Brondby respond

On top of Cooper’s previous reasoning, Brondy have also now spoken out against Barbez’s allegations of dropping a player on purpose.

Their communications chief, Soren Hanghoj, told TV 2 Sport: “This is quite a far-reaching speculation.

“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.”