By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
FIBA reviewed Lithuania’s protest on Rudy Gobert’s interference confirming it was illegal. The three referees, Antonio Conde, Daniel Alberto Garcia Nieves and Leandro Lezcano will not call any other 2019 FIBA World Cup match, but the result of the crucial match stands leaving the Lithuanians out of the quarterfinals.
FIBA determined that Gobert indeed touched he rim while the ball was in contact with it following a free-throw attempt, 30.8 seconds before the end of the last quarter, noting that the correct decision should have been to call a basket interference.
However, nothing can now change. As Lithuanian Federation president Arvydas Sabonis reportedly said: “It’s sad that sometimes the players don’t decide the outcome of the game. But now we can’t do anything. At least they reacted, so they admitted that they made a mistake”.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL