Maccabi was fined by 3,000 Euros for objects that were thrown to court by the fans
The disciplinary judge of the Euroleague gave his sentence today in Swiss regarding the events which took place during game three of the quarter-finals series between Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and AXA FC Barcelona on April 10th 2008.
The judge decided that Vonteego Cummings, Derrick Sharp and Esteban Batista that were disqualified for the game by the referees won’t be fined and won’t be disqualified to play in any future games as a result of the events. The meaning of this decision is that all three will play with Maccabi in the Final Four games in Madrid between 2nd and 4th of May.
Regarding the incident between Cummings and Gianluca Basile wrote the judge: “Cummings didn’t hit and didn’t try to hit Basile. Both players were separated quickly, the whole event didn’t last more than 5 seconds and no one was injured.” After reviewing the DVD of the game and reading the statements of both teams decided the judge not to take any further sanctions against Basile and Cummings.
Also in the case of Sharp and Batista decided the judge not to punish them in addition to the punished they suffered during the game, when they were clearly trying to stop the fight.
Barcelona’s claim of “Violence by the Israeli fans towards Basile” was unconditionally denied by the disciplinary judge, who wrote that during the event with Cummings, which took place on the baseline and near the fans’ seats, Basile expose himself to contact with the fans, and that in no stage he was in physical danger by the fans.
Maccabi was fined by 3,000 Euros for items that were thrown on court by the fans. In his decision the judge indicated Maccabi’s exemplary disciplinary history.
