Rade Bogdanović, a former Yugoslav international who became a consultant for Serbian television, made openly racist remarks after the draw between Belgium and Iran, Sunday evening, in the 2026 World Cup.
When questioned about the expulsion of Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy, sent off in the 66th minute, the former striker shifted from sporting criticism to an unacceptably violent racial attack: "Black players don't have the concentration to last 80 minutes."
Nathan Ngoy targeted after his red card
This racist remark occurred after Nathan Ngoy's sending-off during the Belgium-Iran match, which ended 0-0. The Belgian defender was penalized for a mistake that left his team with ten men. The commentator's error was attributed to skin color.
The fake shield of the “I am not racist”
As is often the case with this type of statement, Bogdanović attempted to preface his remarks with a formula intended to protect him: "I'm not racist, but..." This precaution changes nothing. Because what follows is precisely racist: attributing a supposed mental weakness to black players, not on the basis of facts, but on the basis of their skin color.
Caught on air, he did not apologize.
The presenter tried to counter his remarks with the example of Black players competing at the highest level, particularly on the French national team. But Bogdanović did not retract his statements. He stood by them, asserting that “the majority” They would lack focus. World football has boasted Black players among its greatest defenders, midfielders, forwards, and captains for decades. Reducing them to a stereotype about lack of focus is not only false but humiliating. Totally unacceptable…
