EuroLeague opens disciplinary procedure against Ataman: 'His statements are misleading' / News - Basketnews.com

The EuroLeague has opened a disciplinary procedure against Ergin Ataman, following his statements against referees of Game 1 against Maccabi and his behaviour towards the media in PAO's open practice on Wednesday.

Credit: Vangelis Stolis Credit Vangelis Stolis

Following Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens' loss (87-91) to Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Game 1, Ergin Ataman lashed out on the officiating.

"We didn't play well but two fouls on 3-point shots. Ridiculous. I don't understand. This is not fair for basketball to give six points to Baldwin every time in that position," Ataman critiqued the fairness of referee decisions. "So, this is not fair," he said in his immediate post-game remarks.

On Wednesday, one day after Game 1, Ataman used the video to show certain plays where he thinks PAO didn't get the calls they deserved.

"We made a mistake in the end. That's a fact. It's unacceptable to miss so many free throws. We made some easy mistakes, especially in the last few minutes. The problem Nunn had with the fouls cost us. That's basketball. I stand by what I said after the game.

This match was not clean," Ataman pointed out in his meeting with the media.

"In the regular season we lost the match here in overtime and I was sent off with two technical fouls. I don't want to go back to that game. Now we play in the playoffs. We have no pressure. We want to play clean basketball. We are a better team than Maccabi and from tomorrow we will start showing that."

The Turkish coach's reaction brought a response from Euroleague Basketball, which expressed its opposition to his comments and the way he chose to communicate his complaints. Moreover, the league says disciplinary procedures have already been initiated against the coach.

Furthermore, the league makes reference to Ataman's decision to not speak to Israeli reporter Moshe Barda during PAO's open-to-media practice of Wednesday, April 24. Ataman claimed that the practice was closed to the media and added that the media availability time had expired.

"Are you from Israel? I will not make a statement to the media," he said per one.co.il.

The full release:

"EuroLeague Basketball wishes to express its disappointment about the public statements made by Mr. Ergin Ataman, the Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach, and by the club itself, as well as about other events that happened following Game 1 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs that the club hosted in Athens on Tuesday, April 23, 2024," the organizing authority mentions in a press release.

"Such actions and statements are in full contradiction with the joint statement made on April 15, 2024, by Euroleague Basketball, the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, the EuroLeague Players Association, and the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials, as they create the unnecessary and unjustified conflict that the four organizations, representing its member clubs, coaches, players and officials, all committed to prevent.

The statements made by Coach Ataman are purposefully misleading and incorrect – giving inaccurate analysis of the game and of a carefully selected number of plays; attempting to question the work and the integrity of the officials; and putting additional pressure on them and on the league organization – attempts that obviously will not reach their objectives.

Unfortunately, these statements were not presented to Euroleague Basketball officials through the existing official channels, which are always open to Coach Ataman, his club, and every other club and coach in the competition.

Such behavior will not be tolerated by Euroleague Basketball. Disciplinary procedures have already been initiated, as they have for the events occurred in the obligatory open-to-media practice of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, when Mr. Ataman prevented journalists from performing their duties.

Euroleague Basketball's respect towards the Panathinaikos organization, community and legacy is beyond question, and equal to the respect given to all other clubs in the competition. The events that occurred after Game 1 of the EuroLeague Playoffs are contrary to the principles of respect among the clubs, towards the organization that they all manage, and the values that the competition aims to promote.

Euroleague Basketball encourages Coach Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, and all other clubs and individuals to avoid similar statements and behavior in future games, and to promote the values that the EuroLeague competition represents, generating a positive atmosphere around the games and celebrating the incredible effort and action on the court."

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