By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
AS Monaco coach Vassilis Spanoulis was critical of his star guard Elie Okobo after the player showed a referee the middle finger in the French League game vs. Nanterre 92.
This is unacceptable,” Spanoulis said of Okobo’s gesture, per Clement Biguois.”Even if he may be right about a few calls, he must not do this. He is a role model for young people, he cannot respond like that when he is angry.”
With Nanterre up 71 – 70 and 3:30 left in the game, Okobo was called with a technical foul for flopping during a 3-point attempt. He was ejected since he also had made an unsportsmanlike foul before in the match.
As Okobo was heading to bench, he flipped off toward the direction of the referees visibly saying something as well. Monaco ultimately won 83 – 71 but the French player may be facing a heavy suspension for his gesture that can result in him missing several games.
💢 Exclu à Nanterre suite à une faute technique, Élie Okobo a quitté le terrain en se fendant d’un doigt d’honneur !
👀 Un vilain geste visiblement destiné à l’arbitre Freddy Lepercq.
⚖ Suspension à venir pour le Monégasque ?
🇲🇨 https://t.co/yJIKYaaiaH pic.twitter.com/WafEAKbaFj
— BeBasket (@Be_BasketFr) January 11, 2025
Spanoulis added that Okobo acknowledged his mistakes. “He understood that it was wrong, but it was too late,” the Greek coach mentioned. “He must control his emotions more. Elie must understand his mistake because he is a great player, a good guy in the group, a hard worker.”