Serbian pundit apologises after racist World Cup remark

Former Serbian footballer Rade Bogdanović has apologized after making racist comments about Black players during a live World Cup broadcast, sparking widespread condemnation. The incident occurred on Serbian state broadcaster RTS during coverage of Belgium's goalless draw with Iran in a group stage match on Sunday, June 21.

Bogdanović, a 56-year-old former striker who played for clubs including Atlético Madrid and Werder Bremen, was serving as a pundit. During a discussion of a red card shown to Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy in the 66th minute, Bogdanović made generalizations about Black athletes. He stated that Black players lack the concentration to last more than 60 to 80 minutes, adding that during his playing career, teammates sometimes had to protect such players from making mistakes. The program's host immediately challenged the remarks, but Bogdanović doubled down, insisting that the majority lack concentration.

The comments prompted swift backlash online. Despite the controversy, Bogdanović was reportedly included in RTS's punditry lineup for another match the following day. He has since issued a formal apology. In a statement to Reuters, Bogdanović said he sincerely...