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EUGENIO MUÑOZ
Updated
The Euroleague got serious. The maximum continental basketball competition does not tolerate disrespect to the referees who officiate their matches. No way, with notable hardening of the disciplinary measures that affect the components (players, coaches…) of the league and affect everyone equally. Is indifferent if they affect the starslike those that have recently come to light and point directly to two totems of the competition, Mario Hezonja, one of the stars of Real Madrid, and Kendrick Nunn, focus of the Panathinaikos attack champion.
MADRID, 12/05/2024.- Real Madrid’s Croatian forward Mario Hezonja (i) tries to beat Nicolò Melli, from Fenerbahce, during the matchday 14 of the EuroLeague that Real Madrid and Fenerbahce are playing this Thursday in Madrid. EFE/Juanjo Martín
Hezonja and Nunn They are the last two sanctioned by the Euroleague. That of the Croatian Real Madrid is a “minor” fine, 8,000 eurosafter being sent off in the last white defeat against Fenerbahce at the WiZink Center. His protests led to a double technical at the end of the match and a penalty after addressing, according to the Euroleague, the referees with disrespect. Nunn, for his part, will have greater punishment. The PAO point guard will not play in the European champion’s clash against Anadolu Efes after being sent off in the green defeat against Partizan.
His image did reach a greater dimension. He scored a basket in the paint and gestured toward the referees. There the mess began, in which even Zeljko Obradovic, legendary Partizan coach, tried to stop his vehemence.. He was expelled, as Hezonjafor double technique and its sanction is more important. The American point guard will be out for one game and receives a 5,000 euro fine.
Nunn too became the player who accumulates the most techniques, in a data advanced by 3StepsBasketof the 14 days of Euroleague. Add six. There are three more than their pursuers, Alpha Diallo, Kevin Punter and Vincent Poirier (three each). On the other hand, Hezonja and Campazzowith two whistles, are the Real Madrid players who accumulate the most.
More sanctions…
The cases of Hezonja and Nunn They are the last of a list that has been gaining weight this season of Euroleague. One of the most striking sanctions occurred at the premiere of the competition, with that controversial ending between Bayern and Real Madrid at the SAP Garden in Munich. Facundo Campazzo called for a foul on Weiler-Babb in the final play (which meant the white defeat), ended up on fire against the referees and the Euroleague decided to punish him with a match. He was pardoned after the white appeal, although he then received the punishment shortly after.
The point guard protested the last play, a triple in which he considered he had been fouled, and ended up disqualified.
It also affects coaches, with important cases such as a fine of 5,000 euros to Joan Peñarroyatechnician Barcelona. For something similar, his comments towards the referees in the clash, which the Catalan team won in extra time, against the Red Star of Belgrade on the fourth date of the championship.
