Besiktas condemn sanction on Alimpijevic, stand behind the coach / News - Basketnews.com

Besiktas Emlajket Istanbul released a statement, backing Dusan Alimpijevic on a recent controversy that won him a punishment from the Turkish Basketball Federation.

Credit: IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Hafner-Scanpix Credit IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Hafner-Scanpix

Dusan Alimpijevic and his team Besiktas Emlajket Istanbul were recently embroiled in a controversy with Bursaspor Info Yatirim that got the team and the Serbian specialist sanctions from the Turkish Basketball Federation.

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On the episode, Besiktas issued a statement supporting Alimpijevic and condemning the decision.

The club stated that, although they warned Alimpijevic and spoke on the crisis, the "one-sidedness" of the decision irritated them. They also accused the episode of devolving into a "lynching" of Alimpijevic.

They noted that, although they applied the sanction, they were unhappy to see a purported vilification of Alimpijevic and stated that they would not let the situation devolve in this certain way.

The team's GM, Nedim Yucel, also posted a photograph with Alimpijevic in response to the announcement.

At the moment, Besiktas sit in third place in the Turkish Basketball Super League with 14 wins and 4 losses. They also have a record of 9-8 in the EuroCup Group A.

Full Besiktas statement:

Dusan Alimpijevic, the head coach of our Besiktas Emlakjet team, was given a 1-match ban and a fine of 165 thousand Turkish Liras by the Turkish Basketball Federation for offending the personal rights of the other side in the Besiktas Emlakjet-Bursaspor Info Yatırım match played in the 18th week of the Turkish Insurance Basketball Super League.

Regardless of the two teams competing on the field, we regret what happened between the athlete of the rival team [Metin Turen] and the head coach of our team due to personal reasons based on the past, but he was warned and promised that it would not happen again. On the other hand, this unilateral defamation and lynching, ignoring the provocation aspect of the issue, has become unacceptable.

At a time when our team is marching towards important goals in the league and in Europe, articles that are obviously purposeful in nature are being written, one-sided hateful comments are being made, and a smear campaign is being carried out. We have no tolerance for this campaign, which is increasing day by day!

The punishment given to Dusan Alimpijevic by the Turkish Basketball Federation has reached him and our club. The punishment, according to the rulebook, was applied, and our head coach and our club accepted the punishment.

We will never allow the issue to go beyond the limits of criticism.

Dusan Alimpijevic will continue to work in line with our team's goals. Whoever is plotting conspiracies off the court against him will find Besiktas JK by his side.

Sincerely,

Besiktas JK

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