By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos came out on the losing side in their opening game of the EuroLeague season against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, and it was an encounter full of tension.
Not only head coaches Georgios Bartzokas and Sarunas Jasikevicius had a heated exchange when about to shake hands at the end of the game, but Shaquielle McKissic was also protagonist of an unfortunate situation that took place during the match.
As the clock was approaching halfway through the fourth and remaining quarter, with Olympiacos up 66-65, a fan from the stands started calling out the American guard, who reacted and received a technical foul. The violent supporter was then forced to leave his sit in the arena.
Speaking to Nova Sports in the game aftermath, Shaquielle McKissic returned on the accident. “It is unacceptable to allow such incidents in a top-level organization like the EuroLeague. I kept telling the referees what was going on between me and the Fenerbahçe fans, but no one paid attention”, he said.
“I understand and accept the decision made by referee [Ilija] Belosevic”, he then clarified. “I accept the technical foul he gave me”, he also said about the referee’s decision. “I left the game because I couldn’t focus on the game. I’ve been playing in the EuroLeague for six years and I’ve never experienced anything like this”, the experienced American guard continued.
He also drew a comparison which makes everybody aware of how serious the rude the altercation was. “I’ve played a lot of games. I played against Panathinaikos and I’ve never experienced anything like this. I’ve never heard these things that I’ve heard here tonight”, he concluded.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague