Source:REUTERS/MATTEO CIAMBELLI
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, an Italian soldier stayed at the training ground to watch Bosnia and Herzegovina’s training session and has been accused of espionage by the Bosnian side. Just a few hours before the crucial World Cup qualifier between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy — a match that will decide both teams’ World Cup fates — tensions at the scene have continued to escalate. This time, it was neither Federico Dimarco’s celebrations nor the poor conditions at the Zenica Stadium that sparked the controversy. Instead, it was a leaked photo: an individual suspected of being an “Italian military spy” is alleged to have infiltrated the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team’s training ground to secretly film the home side’s players. Reports claim the entire Bosnian training session was allegedly recorded by a soldier serving in the EUFOR mission stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The military base where the soldier is posted is located right next to the training ground. He was said to have lingered around the Butmir Training Centre even after the 15-minute public access period before training ended. Sources from the Italian Ministry of Defence immediately issued a clarification, firmly denying the existence of any so-called “spy”.
The editor believes that the man is indeed an Italian military personnel. However, given that his garrison is right next to the football field, he was merely watching the team’s training casually on the spot with no intention of spying or gathering intelligence at all.