By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Partizan Mozzart Bet plans to officially submit a request regarding the nationality of the referees in the approaching Playoffs of the AdmiralBet ABA League.
Heading to the Assembly of the ABA League on March 12, the Belgrade giant is set to put forward the exclusion of referees from games featuring at least one team from their respective country, relayed Serbian outlet Meridian sport on Thursday. According to the proposal, Serbian officials will not take over games of Serbian teams, and the same for the remaining countries participating in the regional league.
The official list consists of 57 referees, including 15 from Serbia. Officials from Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and North Macedonia cover the remaining slots.
With six games left before the Playoffs, the reigning ABA champions are tied with Cedevita Olimpija in third place in the 2023-24 Regular Season. At 14-6, they trail Buducnost VOLI by one game and archrival Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet by three games, entering the final stretch of the double-legged round-robin schedule. The top eight teams advance to the Playoffs to compete for the championship.
Over the last two seasons, Partizan and fellow Turkish Airlines EuroLeague outfit Crvena Zvezda met in a best-of-five series to conclude the postseason and therefore crown a champion. And they are labeled as the heavy favorites in the league, thus likely setting up a third collision in a row between May 19 and 29. Controversy surrounding the referees and calls often marks the Eternal derby.
Photo Credit: ABA-Liga.com