The Curious Case of Asmir Begovic Continues

Courtesy of Sky Sports...

It has been revealed cash-strapped Portsmouth owe Tottenham £1million for the sale of Asmir Begovic even though he has never played for the club.

Portsmouth have released their debt report to creditors, spelling out the entirety of the club's debts to be £119million.

Among the debts is the staggering revelation that Portsmouth owe money to Spurs over former goalkeeper Begovic.

During the final days of the January transfer window it is thought that, when Portsmouth sold Younes Kaboul to Tottenham in January, the club negotiated a double deal which included Begovic.

Begovic snubbed a move to White Hart Lane, preferring a transfer to Stoke, but the £1million sell-on clause included in the deal remained despite the fact the Serbian has no connection with the North London outfit.

The report also revealed the club owe in the region of £9million to agents, including just over £2million to Pini Zahavi, and a further £2million to a company called 'PECO AG'.

A total of £38million is owed to assorted owners, including Sacha Gaydamak and Sulaiman al Fahim.

They also owe another £17.3million in transfer fees to clubs including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Players are also owed £3.04million in image rights and £1.86million in unpaid wages to illustrate the club's dire financial problems.

WILL JOHNSON JOINS FULL-TIME

Will Johnson, Canadian National Team member and member of the 2009 MLS Cup winning Real Salt Lake, will join Full-Time this Sunday evening. Show time is a bit late as we follow Vancouver Canucks hockey and the Canucks post game show. We'll be live from midnight until 1am (it's part of our late night shortened shows because frankly, it's past our bedtime). Johnson will chat about the season, the game, being sick prior to the game (and it wasn't food poisoning) and also his thoughts on the future of the Canadian National Team, which players will lead and also what he thinks about Asmir Begovic and the decision to play elsewhere and not Canada.

You can follow the link here and listen live online or if you are using your radio, we are at 1040 on the AM dial in Vancouver.

We also will find out about the latest from Setanta Sports, all the latest scores and news from Europe, the latest on the 'Caps (is Marcus Haber back or off to England) and see what other kind of trouble we can find.

ASMIR BEGOVIC... THE STORY CONTINUES

Former Canadian international and current CBC soccer analyst Jason de Vos posted on his blog today a piece titled, The other side of the Asmir Begovic story.

Blaming the CSA has always been incredibly easy. Let's be honest, they've made a variety of errors (cue Yakety Sax). But I think in this case, it's fair to say that a certain player misled Canadian soccer fans.

While it's nice to finally "hear" some recent comments from Begovic, can I remind everyone about this interview.

Hey, have a listen. It's been a while.

Oh and don't forget, impossible is nothing!

BEGOVIC CALLED UP FOR BOSNIA FRIENDLY

Bosnia and Herzegovina Manager Ciro Blazevic has called up Bosnian / Canadian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic for their August 12 friendly against Iran.

My understanding of the language is extremely limited - but from what I’ve found - Begovic has said he will NOT play v. Iran.

If that is indeed the case, it probably has everything to do with his current club situation since it looks like Portsmouth have signed the previously retired Antti Niemi to back-up the soon-to-be fit David James.

Begovic would certainly be loaned out to another club.

Squad named for Iran friendly:

Goalkeepers:
Nemanja Supić, Asmir Begović, Adis Nurković

Defenders:
Emir Spahić, Ivan Radeljić, Sanel Jahić, Damir Mirvić, Boris Pandža, Safet Nadarević, Adnan Mravac

Midfielders:
Dario Damjanović, Samir Muratović, Elvir Rahimić, Sejad Salihović, Miralem Pjanić, Zvjezdan Misimović, Zlatan Bajramović, Senijad Ibričić, Semir Štilić

Forwards:
Zlatan Muslimović, Edin Džeko, Vedad Ibišević, Admir Vladavić

BOSNIA REACTS TO BEGOVIC

According to translation experts (or guys on the internet), Bosnia is reacting with mixed emotions about Asmir Begovic after coming on with our radio show on Sunday night. One report states:

Asmir Begovic, goaltender for Portsmouth has again arrived at the center of attention for sports journalism in our country. This Trebinje-born player has recently promised Miroslav Blazevic that he will play for the national team of Bosnia & Hertzegovina, but he has clouded things with his announcement for one Canadian radio station stating how he still is thinking about Canada's national team!

As it is common knowledge, Begovic wore the jersey of the youth Canadian team, but according to the new rules of FIFA he has gained the right to change his sports citizenship.

We discovered that [he has] already "started" the procedure where he will change his sports citizenship and his declaration about how he wishes to play for Bosnia has already gone to FIFA. This has been confirmed to us by Munib Usanovic, general secretary of the National Bosnian Football team.

"Ten days ago, we talked with his father and with Asmir and he signed a declaration about the change of his sports citizenship, that is, he confirmed that he wishes to play for Bosnia. The completed documentation was sent by us to Zurich, and in the procedure is also the taking out of Begovic's passport" said Usanovic, who was surprised by Asmir's announcement on Canadian radio:

"I don't know what he means, but something is suspicious, considering that in recent days Begovic has not been answering the calls from our Federation."

It is certainly very confusing. On one hand, Asmir tells us that he hasn't done anything but spoken to Bosnia but insists he still wants to respresent Canada. On the other, they say that he has already begun the process of becoming a Bosnian national squad player. We'll try and dig more into this story and find out more.

BEGOVIC: “I don’t want to switch...”

Portsmouth Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic joined us on Full-Time last night. It sounds like he wants what most fans want: some organization at the CSA and an idea of who (Stephen Hart) will be guiding the Canadian Men’s National Team to (hopefully) the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

You can listen to our conversation here and itunes users can sign up for the podcast here.

Below is a brief rundown of his comments:

On Canada v. Bosnia… “I’ve played for Canada for a long time. There’s no decision, I don’t want to switch… but there is a state of uncertainty with Canada soccer (next coach, etc). Get things in place and I’m happy to stay with Canada, that’s where I see my future… I’ve been approached by Bosnia. There were talks… but I have no intention on playing for Bosnia.”

On coaching situation / Stephen Hart… “Stephen Hart is a very likeable guy. He has a great respect from the players. But the uncertainty concerns many players. Hopefully he stays on… Hart told me I’m in his plans for the future… Which I’m happy with.”

A firm commitment to Canada when things get cleared up?... “Yes… this isn’t a threat or an ultimatum. Myself and some of the other guys just want to know what’s going on. We can really build on our squad and succeed.”

Any pressure from either side?... “The CSA has been really good… no pressure – I would never make a decision without speaking to the CSA. Bosnia – there’s been a lot of speculation, pressure/heat from them. If I was to make a decision, it can’t be made that quickly... I don’t want to change... it’s not really an issue right now.”

Other comments include… “I have never had a problem playing for Canada… there shouldn’t be a change”… and “I’ve been following the Gold Cup. This squad has a lot of potential. Hopefully they can go all the way and make a statement.”

Good.

BEGOVIC DECLARES INTERNATIONAL INTENTIONS ON FULL-TIME

In June of 2009, Bosnia and Herzegovina manager Mirolsav "Ciro" Blazevic told sportsport.ba that Asmir Begovic had committed to play for Bosnia.

Last week, on the July 5th edition of Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show, Canada's interim head coach Stephen Hart said that he didn't believe Begovic had committed himself to the Bosnian national squad and when all was said and done, he would likely choose Canada.

We've all heard what each coach has to say, but what about Asmir Begovic? What are his intentions? Well, you can find out Sunday, July 12th at 9pm on Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show as the Portsmouth goalkeeper joins Tyler Green and Mike Martignago for an exclusive interview where he answers all the questions about his international future.

Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show can be heard live on the AM dial at 1040 or online here.

For more information on Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show, visit the official TEAM 1040 Show page located here.

HART on BEGOVIC: “IN THE END, HE’LL PLAY FOR CANADA”

Canadian Men’s National Team Interim Coach and CSA Technical Director (longest title ever) Stephen Hart joined us on the July 5th edition of Full-Time. He had some rather interesting thoughts on what will happen with Canadian / Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Various reports have indicated that Begovic will turn his back on the country he represented at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup and play for the Bosnia and Herzegovina senior squad.

However, Hart thinks that won’t happen. While he acknowledges that in the end it’s Begovic’s decision, Hart doesn’t believe that yet another fine talent will forget Canada and represent another nation.

“We chatted before the Gold Cup. I had invited him in… he had some situations that he had to deal with that would’ve made it very difficult to come in, he explained that to me.

… In his words, he was very happy to be called in and was more than willing to come in if these situations had not occurred. But at the end of the day, the decision is going to be his… I have a feeling he’s going to play for us, he’s played for us since U-17, and I think in the end he’ll play for Canada.”

Hart mentioned that he spoke with Begovic in late May when Canada met Cyprus in a friendly. At that time, Begovic was unable to play after having to fill-in for injured Portsmouth regular David James.

Hart also added that while it’s always been a rumour, Begovic has never said anything to him about playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ASMIR BEGOVIC SAYS NO TO CANADA

According to the website sportsport.ba, Asmir Begovic has decided to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina and not Canada. Bosnia and Herzegovina manager Mirolsav "Ciro" Blazevic Begovic had committed to play for Bosnia.

The article states: "I spoke with Asmir and told him that I want to see him in the national team [of Bosnia and Herzegovina]. He told me that he needed some time to think, and I called after a day or two and he said he will be proud to wear the national jersey team so I expect him to appear in the forthcoming get together of the squad," he said.

"I haven't yet have not watched Asmir play, but I checked with [Niko] Kranjčar, who told me that it is an excellent goalkeeper."

This is terrible news for Canadian fans as another young and promising young talent has decided to play for another country.

BEGOVIC COULD BE CHELSEA BOUND

Carlo Ancelotti has also made an approach for Portsmouth's 21-year-old understudy goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. At Chelsea, he could count as one of their eight “locally trained” players, which they must have in their 25-man squad for the Champions League next season, because he has played for Portsmouth for three years before turning 21.

Chelsea are also interested in Middlesbrough keeper Ross Turnbull, 24, as they look to increase their "home-grown" quota.