Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has openly apologised to Bosnia for missing this week's friendly.

The 23-year-old shot-stopper played in Stoke's 2-0 win over Liverpool last weekend but then did not accept an international call-up to face Slovakia.

Bosnia manager Safet Susic has since slammed the Potters goalkeeper, calling for sanctions against both Begovic and Stoke.

However, the former Portsmouth man has revealed that he was suffering from illness following an injection and could not even bring himself to contact the national boss.

He told Dnevni Avaz: "Safet Susic, team-mates, fans and all who have Bosnia-Herzegovina in their hearts, please don't be angry with me.

"I didn't travel back home because I had health problems. I felt so bad I thought I was going to die.

"I got an injection after the game against Liverpool and I guess I got a reaction to the medicine.

"My body was in so much pain, I was vomiting all day long. I couldn't even pick up a phone to call anyone.

"I think that our club doctor saved my life, he gave me medicine that helped me. When I felt a little bit better, I promptly called the Bosnian FA.

"I don't know what the problem was. My club told me they will deal with this, that they will find an agreement with Susic.

"I regret everything but hope that Susic will forgive me, and the Bosnian fans."