By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The French Federation of Basketball offered full support to Sylvain Francisco following racist messages and insults posted on social media.
On Sunday, FFBB issued a statement noting ‘intolerable’ comments countering the values of basketball and of the Federation.
Earlier, Nicolas Batum, serving as a color commentator for France’s games on TF1, shared a social media post featuring comments related to Francisco and his bucket following a handshake with Luka Doncic, late in the EuroBasket 2025 meeting between France and Slovenia in Katowice’s Spodek Arena on Saturday.
The 27-year-old guard also reacted to the messages.
“I want to make it clear that you can insult me or hate me for what I did but racist comments were made, and they go against the values of this sport and community. This behavior is not only harmful but also reflects poorly on the team/organization even the country. Being hit with racist sluts, being called the N-word, compared to an animal (Monkey), or using slave terms isn’t just an attack on me, it’s an attack on my race and humanity, and I will never stay silent about it. I expect this to be addressed appropriately,” he noted.
Le raciste ne doit pas être toléré dans la vie de tous les jours, et encore moins dans le sport. pic.twitter.com/TWYQlJI32p
— Frenchie (@S_CISCO_2) August 31, 2025
“Some of y’all are SICK even if you disagree with a BASKETBALL play, racism and hate are NEVER ACCEPTABLE at all,” wrote the 36-year-old winger of the Los Angeles Clippers, “After Dennis Schroder earlier, now this…”
Some of y’all are SICK even if you disagree with a BASKETBALL play, racism and hate are NEVER ACCEPTABLE at all. After Dennis Schroder earlier, now this…
Major props to Sylvain, great game brother. Keep shining and making us proud🫡🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/VRNc4UxnyA
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) August 30, 2025
On Tuesday, FIBA issued a statement.
Per the press release: “FIBA condemns unequivocally all acts of abuse, racism and discrimination of any form, physical or online. Our sport has zero tolerance for such practices anyone who adopts them. The basketball family stands shoulder to shoulder with our players or staff who have fallen victims of such abhorrent attacks.”
FIBA has released the following statement #EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/tmoUNZnjr6
— FIBA Media (@FIBA_media) September 2, 2025
This marks a second racist incident following a racial slur toward Germany’s Dennis Schroder at Tampere’s Nokia Arena, leading to the ban of a Lithuanian fan from attending other games of the tournament.
Photo Credit: FIBA