Full Breakdown
Rade Bogdanovic’s Racist Remarks Spark Controversy During World Cup Broadcast
6/23/2026, 8:38:53 AM
The Controversial Commentary
During the Group G match between Belgium and Iran at the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles, former Yugoslav striker Rade Bogdanovic, a pundit on Serbian public broadcaster RTS, claimed that black players typically lose concentration after 60 to 80 minutes. He made the remark while analysing the 66th-minute red card shown to Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy. The comment aired live on RTS Sunday night.
Background and Bogdanovic’s Profile
Bogdanovic, 56, earned three caps for Yugoslavia in 1997 and played for clubs including Atlético Madrid, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and in South Korea and Japan. He began his professional career with Zeljeznicar in Sarajevo before moving abroad. For the 2026 tournament he was hired by RTS as an “expert commentator,” not a regular employee, to analyse matches involving Serbia’s national team.
Match Context and Stakes
The Belgium-Iran encounter ended 0-0, leaving Belgium third in Group G with two points after draws with Egypt and Iran, and at risk of elimination before their final group match. The draw left Belgium level on points with Iran but trailing Egypt, which sits on four points. The 66th-minute red card to 23-year-old Nathan Ngoy, on his sixth cap, contributed to the setback.
Official Statements and Apologies
Bogdanovic issued an apology to Reuters, expressing sincere regret for his remarks about black football players. RTS also issued a public apology, saying it regretted the on-air statement concerning members of a particular race. RTS clarified that Bogdanovic is not an employee but serves as an expert commentator for the tournament.
Criticism and Public Reaction
Social-media users described Bogdanovic’s remarks as racist and discriminatory. The incident was reported as “widely condemned as racist and wholly unacceptable,” and tarnishes RTS’s image during the World Cup. The episode follows a previous presenter suspension earlier in the tournament. No disciplinary action by RTS or FIFA was reported.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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.” — Rade Bogdanovic
- “I sincerely apologise for my statement regarding Black football players.” — Rade Bogdanovic
- “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,” — RTS
- “If we wanted to go into details, we could. They make mistakes too. Of course I'm not generalising, but the majority lack concentration and then situations like this happen.” — Rade Bogdanovic
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree Bogdanovic returned to the RTS studio for the Argentina-Austria match the next day. No source details any formal sanction by RTS or FIFA, leaving the disciplinary outcome unclear.
What’s Next
Belgium must win its final group fixture to avoid elimination, while RTS faces scrutiny over its on-air commentary. Bogdanovic’s future role with the broadcaster remains uncertain pending further investigation.
