Potters reach Begovic resolution

Last updated : 16 February 2011 By BBC Sport

Stoke chairman Peter Coates believes the row between Asmir Begovic and the Bosnian FA has been resolved after they threatened to prevent him from playing.The Potters goalkeeper was reported to Fifa after pulling out of the Bosnia squad for a friendly against Mexico in Atlanta, USA, on 9 February.

Coates told BBC Radio Stoke: "We had lots of phone calls and there seemed to be plenty of misunderstandings.

"As far as I know, nothing's gone any further. We think everything's okay."

The Stoke chairman continued: "We want our players to play for their national teams, we think they should and we have no problem with it."

It was the second time that Begovic, 23, had failed to report for international duty, having claimed he was too ill to travel for a friendly against Slovakia in November.

There was a chance that the former Portsmouth stopper could have been prevented from starting for Stoke against Birmingham last Saturday in the Premier League, although after talks with the Potters, football chiefs in Bosnia had no objection to him playing at St. Andrew's.

Begovic has started the last 17 Premier League matches in goal for Stoke, after being selected ahead of Denmark international Thomas Sorensen.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport