Zvezda and Partizan presidents clash: 'He should be lying in prison' / News - Basketnews.com

Before the Belgrade derby, the presidents of both Crvena Zvezda and Partizan publicly clashed, remembering past lawsuits and questioning each other's biography.

Credit: Marko Metlas/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Marko Metlas/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

The Belgrade derby between Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade featured multiple events on and off the court that sparked stories around the continent.

Free throws this season

78%15,0Points made:15,0Accuracy:77,7%Place in standings:8Record max:20Record min:8Most made FTs:Nemanja NedovicTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

On that same day, the presidents of both clubs publicly clashed against one another with explosive statements in the media.

First, Partizan's Ostoja Mijailovic went on the Jutro TV morning program to talk about the upcoming game. In the middle of the interview, he started talking about Zvezda's Nebojsa Covic.

"The president of Crvena Zvezda has not been on the public stage for three years, [yet] he has been there for 30 years, both in politics and in sports. We all know how it works and how he survives in all this," Mijailovic said.

"From [Slobodan] Milosevic to [Dragan] Dzilas, who brought him to Zvezda, he betrayed all those people and survived," he continued. "[He] really [did it] more to label us and to draw a target on our foreheads on all the morning programs, we will not allow that. Instead of lying in prison, he goes on television and bashes us."

The presenter of the show then mentioned that the two should sit down on one occasion and talk about it at a single show. Mijailovic denied it, claiming that he had accepted the opportunity three times before and Covic never showed up.

A couple of hours before the match, Crvena Zvezda released a video on the official YouTube channel of the team with Nebojsa Covic's direct response.

"I saw Mijajlovic's statement as unworthy of the role he holds. A little man whose biography can't even be fixed by money. In short, the wrong man in the wrong place. As for his name-calling and accusations, he should answer how much Partizan owes in taxes," Covic said.

"To answer how he dealt with my biography, he worked as a car mechanic or at an auto body shop in Prislonica," Covic repeated the common theme used to mock Mijailovic. "Participating in the same studio with him is out of the question because it is my civilized right. He had the opportunity to see me in court three times, he did not come to any of the hearings even though the hearings were based on his lawsuit. I think that's enough for smart people to figure everything out."

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.