Bosnia face race against time to clear Medunjanin
SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia coach Miroslav Blazevic is hoping uncapped midfielder Haris Medunjanin will be granted approval by FIFA in time to make his debut in the two-legged World Cup playoff against Portugal later this month.
Blazevic included Medunjanin in his squad for the ties on Nov.14 in Lisbon and Zenica four days later but the Real Valladolid midfielder must first get clearance after playing for the Dutch under-21 squad.
"The procedure for changing his soccer nationality is in progress and we expect a positive reply from FIFA by the end of the week," Blazevic told a news conference on Wednesday.
"We've asked for a summary procedure because we are running out of time and we are all hoping that Medunjanin will be cleared to play for us," added Bosnia's FA secretary general Munib Usanovic.
Medunjanin, 24, fled the war in Bosnia to the Netherlands with his mother and sister in 1992 and won back-to-back under-21 European Championships with the Dutch in 2006 and 2007.
His father was unable to leave with them and was later killed in the 1992-95 conflict.
Medunjanin played for Dutch first division sides AZ Alkmaar and Sparta Rotterdam before joining Valladolid in 2008.
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