Lithuanian workforce Zalgiris Kaunas are set to keep away from any punishment from the EuroLeague for his or her message in assist of Ukraine
The choice from Lithuanian basketball workforce Zalgiris Kaunas to show a Ukrainian flag together with a message studying ‘Cease Warfare’ will not see them face censure from EuroLeague chiefs, in response to a report from RIA Novosti.
Per a press launch from the EuroLeague, Zalgiris Kaunas’ determination to fly the Ukrainian flag forward of a sport in opposition to Serbian workforce Crvena Zvezda, who’re higher referred to as Pink Star, does not contravene any of the established guidelines throughout the league and can’t due to this fact be thought-about offensive.
Forward of the beginning of Sunday’s sport between the 2 golf equipment in Kaunas, Zalgiris stood side-by-side whereas the EuroLeague anthem was being performed and subsequently displayed the yellow and blue flag, which had the phrases ‘Cease Warfare’ written on it.
Crvena Zvezda gamers, in contrast, didn’t take part on the demonstration and had been booed by nearly all of the 15,000-strong crowd contained in the Zalgirio Area.
Serbian gamers weren’t holding the 'Cease The Warfare' banner throughout Zalgiris v Crvena Zvezda.
Kaunas crowd reacted with a loud booing 😳 pic.twitter.com/bRmV4rDhX1
— BasketNews.com (@BasketNews_com) April three, 2022
Representatives for Pink Star later referred to the gesture made by Zalgiris as a “politicization” of sport, after chants of “f**okay Serbia” and “glory to Ukraine” had been additionally heard in the course of the sport. Some house followers are additionally stated to have displayed NATO flags.
“Ought to we ask ourselves right now, in 2022, why in 1999, in the course of the NATO aggression and the killing of hundreds of harmless civilians and youngsters, whereas the Zalgiris basketball gamers received this competitors, they didn’t carry the banner ‘Cease the aggression in opposition to Yugoslavia?‘” Crvena Zvezda stated in an announcement, demanding disciplinary motion.
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Serbian basketball workforce explains Ukraine flag snub
Nonetheless, EuroLeague chiefs did not fairly agree.
“EuroLeague Basketball encourages the liberty of expression of gamers and coaches, so long as any messages are introduced with respect,” league bosses stated in an announcement to Russian outlet RIA.
“The ‘Cease the Warfare’ banner they displayed earlier than [the game] can’t be thought-about offensive and is in step with the views the league promotes on its platforms.”
Among the Crvena Zvezda gamers stated they had been knowledgeable by their workforce to not take part within the protest.
“As a workforce we had been instructed to not contact the flag,” stated Pink Star’s Aaron White, a United States nationwide, who added he was in opposition to the battle in Ukraine and “need[s] peace in our world.”
And after a tense sport between the 2 rivals, it was the Lithuanian aspect who got here out on high by a rating of 103 to 98 after extra time.
