Former Atletico Madrid striker Rade Bogdanovic has faced widespread backlash after making a racist comment about black players during a World Cup programme on Serbian public broadcaster RTS. The incident occurred during coverage of Belgium's goalless draw with Iran on June 24, 2026.
Bogdanovic's Controversial Statement
Discussing the sending off of Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy, who received a red card in the second half for a foul on Iran's Mehdi Taremi, Bogdanovic said: 'I have always said those players – and I'm really not racist – but black players lack the concentration to last more than 60 to 80 minutes.' He added, 'When we played, we sometimes had to protect our own players to stop them making mistakes.'
The 56-year-old, who made three appearances for Yugoslavia in 1997, doubled down on his remarks when challenged by the show's host, insisting that 'the majority lack concentration'.
Apology and Broadcaster Response
Bogdanovic later issued an apology via Reuters, saying: 'I sincerely apologise for my statement regarding black football players.' RTS also released an official apology, stating: 'We would like to take this opportunity to apologise, as a broadcaster, for the statement made in our programme concerning members of a particular race.' The broadcaster clarified that Bogdanovic was only working as an 'expert commentator' for the tournament.
Context of Similar Incidents
Earlier in the tournament, former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart faced criticism for an offensive 'joke' about Japan's World Cup team, suggesting their players 'all look alike'. He later apologised, saying his intention was 'never to insult, hurt, or discriminate against anyone'.
Belgium's draw with Iran left them seeking their first win of the tournament, with defender Nathan Ngoy's red card proving costly after he underhit a pass to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois before fouling Taremi.
