Rade Bogdanović sparked outrage on live World Cup coverage on Sunday evening after saying black players do not have the concentration to last more than 60 to 80 minutes. The remark came after Nathan Ngoy was sent off for Belgium, and Bogdanović refused to pull it back when challenged.
Ngoy’s red card in Belgium
Bogdanović directed the comment at the 23-year-old Belgium defender after Ngoy was dismissed in the 66th minute for a last-man challenge during Belgium’s goalless draw with Iran. Ngoy was in only his sixth international cap and was visibly distraught after receiving his marching orders.
The dismissal arrived in a Group G match that left Belgium’s World Cup campaign hanging precariously in the balance. Belgium sat third with two points, trailing Egypt on four points and level with Iran on goal difference, so the result sharpened the pressure before Bogdanović even spoke.
Bogdanović on live TV
He did not soften the point once the presenter pushed back. “At this level, to be the last defender, to miss a ball that is standing still and then get sent off... I've always said these players, and I'm not racist, but black players don't have the concentration to last more than 60 to 80 minutes,” he said.
Bogdanović then tried to justify the line by invoking his own playing experience. “I played with them,” he said, before adding, “Sometimes we had to protect our own players from making mistakes. Modern football doesn't allow this kind of error at World Cup level.”
RTS and the fallout
When challenged again, he still would not retract it. “If we wanted to go into details, we could,” he said, then followed with, “They make mistakes too. Of course I'm not generalising, but the majority lack concentration and then situations like this happen,” leaving the broadcaster and pundit exposed on live television.
That sequence is the immediate story for RTS: the remarks were made in real time, on state television, during World Cup coverage, and the source does not give any disciplinary or broadcast response. For readers tracking the fallout, the live record now includes the comment itself, the refusal to withdraw it, and the public scrutiny that followed.
