Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy Match Caught Up in “Spy” Scandal
Kate Marshal
31 March 2026
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Pictured: the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team and the Italy national team
A controversy surrounding the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy has spilled beyond sport.
The controversy was triggered by a photograph circulated in Bosnian media, showing a man in military uniform filming a training session on his phone after the open portion had ended. The image raised suspicions, with some linking it to potential espionage in Italy’s interest.

It later emerged that the individual in the photo was an Italian serviceman from EUFOR Althea, the European Union’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mission’s base is located in close proximity to the training ground in Butmir.
According to Gazeta Sporturilor, citing Italian defence sources, there was no espionage involved and the serviceman had simply stopped to observe the session.
Nevertheless, the incident quickly gained traction. Authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected to submit an official request to EUFOR seeking clarification.
Gambling Park reports that the match is scheduled to take place later on Tuesday in Zenica, with kick-off at 20:45 CET.
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