Bosnia and Herzegovina basketball team faces crisis before Lithuania match

basketball World Cup qualifiers Aleksandar Lazić Bosnia and Herzegovina Lithuania

The Bosnia and Herzegovina national basketball team faces significant turmoil ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Lithuania in Vilnius. The team is dealing with both political and logistical crises.

Player Aleksandar Lazić and assistant coach Zoran Petković reportedly left the team following alleged pressure and threats from officials in Republika Srpska, specifically linked to their employment at Igokea. Reports suggest the pressure followed political tensions arising from a previous match in Tuzla.

Additionally, the team's equipment was detained by Serbian security services, including the BIA and police, at the Belgrade airport. The shipment was reportedly flagged as ‘suspicious’ after Lazić and Petković requested their personal bags, leaving the squad without proper jerseys and footwear for training.

Despite these setbacks, head coach Dario Gjergja has urged the remaining players, including Jusuf Nurkić, to focus on the game. The team currently holds fourth place in their group with three wins and four losses, fighting for one of the three qualifying spots.

Entities

Aleksandar Lazić · Bosnia and Herzegovina Basketball Federation · Bosnia and Herzegovina National Basketball Team · Dario Gjergja · Igokea · Jusuf Nurkić · KK Igokea · Lithuania · Milorad Dodik · Ratko Mladić · Zoran Petković

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The incident followed messages glorifying the death of Ratko Mladić during a match in Tuzla.
[● 2 SOURCES] Aleksandar Lazić left the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team preparations due to alleged pressure from Milorad Dodik.
[● 2 SOURCES] Assistant coach Zoran Petković also left the national team.
[● 2 SOURCES] Lazić was allegedly threatened with the loss of his engagement at Igokea if he remained with the national team.