A week after Bosnia and Herzegovina booked a place in the FIFA World Cup with a penalty shootout win over Italy, a 14-year-old ball boy has become a hero at home.
Afan Cizmic was one of the ball boys at Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica for the UEFA playoff final on March 31, when Bosnia hosted Italy for a place in the 2026 World Cup.
He drew attention after hiding Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s penalty shootout notes just before the kicks were taken.
Cizmic, who was on the sideline before the shootout, saw Donnarumma reading from a piece of paper tucked behind a towel. He realised it contained information on Bosnian penalty takers, took the note and ran away from the goal.
When the shootout started, Donnarumma did not save any of the four penalties he faced, while Italy missed three of their own, sending Bosnia through.
Cizmic said he hesitated before taking the paper.
“I saw where he left the paper and that he was reading from it. I thought about whether I should take it or not. Then I said, ‘Whatever happens, happens,’ and I took it,” he told Turkish news agency Anadolu on Wednesday.
Donnarumma did not see Cizmic take the note, but he became angry when he could not find it and then tried to take the other goalkeeper’s penalty shootout notes.
Cizmic said that reaction showed him his move mattered.
“I was happy because I saw he got angry and lost concentration,” he said.
His act has sparked social media debate and made national news in Bosnia. Fans have called for him to join the national team on the trip to the World Cup.
Cizmic has also appeared on football shows, spoken to international media and been photographed at the stadium where Bosnia qualified and Italy became the only former champions to miss a third straight World Cup.
He dismissed criticism online and said others would have done the same.
“If we were playing in Italy, someone would have done it to our goalkeeper, Nikola Vasilj, too,” he said.
Cizmic now carries the note in a plastic cover as memorabilia and takes it to media appearances. He has also said it will be auctioned, with all proceeds going to charity.
He is a youth footballer with local club Celik Zenica and says he hopes to wear the Bosnian national team jersey one day.
His father, Emir Cizmic, said he was proud of his son and said ball boys can affect the rhythm and outcome of matches.
Read more from Al Jazeera.
