By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Just before the tipoff of the EuroLeague match between Olympiacos Piraeus and Olimpia Milano, the camera captured Ukrainian referee Boris Ryzhyk holding a “Stop War” sign during the pregame ceremony. It was a message for what is taking place right now back at his home country which is facing a full-scale invasion by Russia since the early morning hours of Thursday (24/2).
After making some basic comments about the loss of his team to Olympiacos, Milano boss Messina wanted to address matters far more important than a basketball game. The Italian coach and four-time EuroLeague champion turned his focus on the war and Ryzhyk in particular who had to officiate the game while Ukraine is dealing with the Russian aggression.
“I would like to express our sympathy to Boris Ryzhyk,” Messina said. “I cannot even imagine what he’s going through, this referee, who traveled here today in such a horrible day for Europe with the war beginning in Ukraine.”
Earlier on Thursday, Zalgiris Kaunas announced that the team won’t be playing its upcoming games in Russia against CSKA Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg. Zalgiris general manager Paulius Motiejunas stated that they will be calling “Western” EuroLeague clubs to make a general boycott of their games against Russian teams.
Barcelona postponed the travel to St. Petersburg to face Zenit Friday (25/2) while Bayern Munich asked for its game against CSKA to be suspended. Ultimately, EuroLeague shut down all three games of Russian teams this week.
A crucial remote meeting is planned to be held Friday when the 18 EuroLeague clubs will discuss how to proceed in light of these circumstances.
“It’s really difficult to make a comment when you see the games being canceled because of the situation because we don’t know what it’s going to happen in the future,” Messina said. “Losing a basketball game is nothing compared to what’s happening [in Ukraine]”