By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes defeated Fenerbahce Beko 97-91 in Game 3 of the TBSL semifinal series, taking a 2-1 lead, and after the match coach of the losing side, Dimitris Itoudis made various objections against calls made by the referees.
Fenerbahce also released a public statement, and Turkish Basketball Federation responded, saying in an official announcement that the three referees from the match won’t be officiating until the end of the season.
“Although we are extremely satisfied with the general performance of our referees since the beginning of the season, the whistles played in the fourth quarter of the match played between Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahçe Beko at the Istanbul Sinan Erdem Sports Hall in the third match of the play-off semi-finals of the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League affected the end of the match. Although I am sure that there was no malicious intent, in my capacity as the Vice President of the Basketball Federation responsible for the Central Arbitration Board, it upsets me personally.
The Central Referee Board, which dealt with the issue with all its technical details, decided to rest the three referees of the match played yesterday with a similar assessment until the end of the season.
I am very pleased with the quality of basketball, both technical and spectacle, in the play-off semi-finals of the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League between Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahçe Beko, our two distinguished clubs that represent our country abroad with their achievements that we are proud of and add great strength and color to our basketball with their competition in our league.
I fully believe that a playoff series where the fight on the field is discussed, not the referees, will continue,” TBF’s vice-president Kemal Dincer stated.
Game 4 will be held at the same venue Friday. Fener possibly recovering the homecourt advantage would force a do-or-die Game 5 in Ulker Sports Arena. The advancing side will face Turk Telekom or Pinar Karsiyaka in the championship best-of-five series.