By Aris Barkas/ info@eurohoops.net
Countering initial uncertainty surrounding a potential sanction against Olympiacos, Euroleague Basketball decided against punishing the Greek club.
The Reds were in danger of a sanction following the racial slur by a courtside fan in the recent game versus Valencia in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. Shortly following the Round 14 affair on Friday, they issued a lifetime ban to the person responsible for attacking referee Joseph Bisang with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
“Olympiacos has always been against any form and act of racism. For this reason, we unequivocally condemn today’s verbal attack by a “fan” of our team against one of the referees of the match. We announce also that his season ticket is immediately removed and his entry to the Peace and Friendship Stadium is forever prohibited,” read the press release.
After the lifetime ban of the fan who used a racial slur against ref Joseph Bissang there will be no other disciplinary proceeding against Olympiacos. The timely and quick reaction of the club closed the case. More on @eurohoopsGR and @Eurohoopsnet
— Aris Barkas (@arbarkas) December 18, 2023
In a joint press release across the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, the EuroLeague Players’ Association, and the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials, the timely and quick reaction was considered a milestone. “The fast reaction of Olympiacos, with the immediate lifetime ban of the fan who used a racial slur towards referee Joseph Bissang should be a benchmark from now on,” was mentioned.
Euroleague Basketball later also issued a lifetime ban to the supporter of the Greek club. Besides being no longer welcome to attend games in the Peace and Friendship Stadium, the additional penalty does not permit access to any fixture of Europe’s premier club continental competition or BKT EuroCup.