Barcelona call for measures against intimidation of referees in ACB finals / News - Basketnews.com

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FC Barcelona's basketball director Josep Cubells believes that during the final moments of his team's narrow win in Game 2 of the Spanish finals, Real Madrid players proceeded to actions that "were able to intimidate the referees".

A controversial personal foul called against Walter Tavares on Cory Higgins in the last seconds of the match (which awarded the American guard the pair of free-throws deciding the outcome) was heavily protested in the whites' locker room.

Players exploded against the referees at the end of the clash. Thus, Guerschon Yabusele went to talk heatedly with the referee Emilio Perez Pizarro and Rudy Fernandez was upset in the locker room tunnel.

"At the end of the game, as a result of the tension, certain actions were seen that we understand could have intimidated the referees who officiated the game," said Josep Cubells, who added:

"We are surprised that these actions, both the one that happened on the court (Yabusele) and the one that happened in the locker room tunnel (Fernandez), were not transferred to the arbitration record."

Barca's director of basketball section stressed that the referees are "a crucial piece for the hosting of games in the ACB finals" and asked that measures be taken so that "this type of intimidation does not happen again in future matches".

Madrid's guard Nigel Williams-Goss, who couldn't help his teammates on the court due to injury, expressed his disappointment on Twitter. "Refs give them the game again… Unbelievable. I don't understand this at all! Let the teams decide who wins and loses!" he tweeted.

Guerschon Yabusele took to his social media account, protesting against the officiating: "Unbelievable… this really need to stop." The Frenchman was dominant under the baskets and finished the match with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 21 PIR.

However, coach Chus Mateo did not want to comment on refereeing in the post-game conference.

"We are not talking about the referees. We play basketball. During the game, you try to assess with them [officials] if their calls are correct. They are the bosses in the match. They evaluate whether it was a foul or not. It's part of the game."

With the series tied 1-1, Game 3 will be played in Madrid on June 17 (Friday), at 21:00 CEST.

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