Reporting from Istanbul: Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
The top European referees who are calling games for the EuroLeague have been excluded from this tournament. The result is that referees from other continents are used and the calls made are different from the usual European criteria.
As Bertans explained: “We know that FIBA doesn’t use the EuroLeague referees in this tournament. That has created a big issue. Those who call the games are not of high level. And with the game on the line, things are hard.A couple of calls may go this way or that way. I know that it’s not on purpose. It’s even harder for the referees than the players in this championship”.
(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)