Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Monday, November 17, 2025, 10:42 p.m. / Updated Monday, November 17, 2025, 10:46 p.m.
Bosnian media continue to react two days after the match in Zenica, where Bosnia made a spectacular comeback Romaniascore 3-1, although the “tricolors” were leading at halftime. Far from focusing on the decisive duel with Austria, the Bosnians opened a new front: a direct attack on the selector Mircea Lucescu (80 years old).
Everything happens against the background of the scandal that broke out before and during the game: the banner displayed by the “United under the Tricolor” faction, followed by the response of the Bosnian tribune, with racist chants addressed to the Romanians.
Press from Bosnia: “Romanians have been crying since the match ended”
One of the most read sports publications in Bosnia accused the Romanians of “not accepting defeat” and of still blaming the referee:
“The Romanians have been crying since the end of the match they lost 3-1 and they do not come to terms with the “injustice” that they believe was done to them by the referees”, notes sportsport.ba.
The Bosnians note that the main target is the English referee Michael Oliver, the one who eliminated Drăguș in the second half, a moment considered decisive by Mircea Lucescu's team.
“The Englishman became persona non grata for the Romanians because of the red card awarded to Drăguș for the foul on Katic.”
Lucescu, put on the wall: the Bosnians accuse him of “always returning to arbitration”
Bosnian journalists reacted inappropriately to the statements of Mircea Lucescu, who complained about the conditions in Zenica and the refereeing of the two direct matches.
“Experienced coach Mircea Lucescu spoke again about refereeing. He also remembered the match in Bucharestwhen Bosnia won 1-0.
He claims that then the Dutch referee Danny Makkelie favored Bosnia and Herzegovina”, noted the quoted source.
The “tricolori” hope for the chance of the dam
After the defeat suffered by Bosnia, score 1-3, Romania still has a chance to reach the World Cup only through the play-off scheduled in March.
The Tricolors will finish the group in third place, which will put them face to face with a more difficult opponent and force them to play the play-off semi-final away.
