Euroleague issues lifetime ban to fan for racist comments towards referee

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

In an unprecedent decision, EuroLeague basketball has announced a lifetime ban to the fan who verbally attacked referee Joseph Bissang during the game between Olympiacos and Valencia.

The incident was already condemned by the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, the EuroLeague Players Association and the the Union of EuroLeague Basketball Officials, while Olympiacos has already banned for life the fan.

Per the press release: Euroleague Basketball has imposed a fan with a lifetime prohibition to access any Euroleague Basketball games and events due to the racist comments addressed to one of the officiating crew members at the Olympiacos Piraeus vs Valencia Basket game, on December 15, 2023.

The home club, Olympiacos Piraeus, had already canceled the individual’s season ticket shortly after the incident and announced that he would be prohibited from attending any Olympiacos games, ever.

Euroleague Basketball, Olympiacos Piraeus, and all its fellow clubs are strongly committed to celebrating diversity and promoting respect, using basketball to unite fans, and applying a zero-tolerance policy at their events towards any acts that go against these values.

It has to be noted that Olympiacos feared sanctions after the incident which was registered in the score sheet, however so far there no mention about any possible punishment.