By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Tel Aviv issued an official press release about the Sofo incident and as it was expected the club supports the Greek center. As it’s explained, Schortanitis was provoked by a particular fan, still the player is expected to be fined and punished with missing a number of games in the Israeli league.
The text of the press release is the following: “Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club rejects and condemns any kind of violence – both physical and verbal, which is often severe and no less harmful – and makes it clear that it has no place on the sports field. We expect the players, even the most severe cases, finding the strength of mind and holding back.
Maccabi will conduct a comprehensive investigation of a disciplinary issue, you will learn in depth the details of the event and the club will take a decision on the matter which will be published later.
As it’s already known, the incident occurred after the final buzzer of the game against Hapoel Tel Aviv when Sofoklis Schortsanitis was heading to the locker rooms – and even though this is an area that should be sterile and the players protected in a hostile environment – a Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball fan from the stands, hung on the tunnel leaning at the end of it, spat on him and cursed him at him using terrible and racist slur. Among other things, the fan shouted: “I will rape your daughter and your son “. Αfter that he started to run.
Contrary to the reports about injuries, those accusations are groundless. The player did not hit and hurt anyone. Contrary to reports that the player “trampled over children,” it can be clearly seen in the video of the incident that the one who hurt children and people in the stands is the fan who provoke the incident. The player was blocked by security guards and did not hit anyone”.