Stark Arena director warns: 'Game 3 will be under a microscope' / News - Basketnews.com

Goran Grbovic explained that the EuroLeague has supervisors around the hall, and the control and scrutiny will be high during Game 3, given the tensions between the two teams.

Credit: Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic Credit Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic

Game 3 between Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Real Madrid at Stark Arena is arguably the most anticipated EuroLeague playoff match after what happened in Madrid on Thursday night.

Free throws this season

83%18,1Points made:18,1Accuracy:83,2%Place in standings:1Record max:28Record min:3Most made FTs:Dante ExumTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Many wonder how Partizan fans will welcome Real on Tuesday following the massive brawl that overshadowed basketball at WiZink Center.

Due to the fuss around the safety concerns for Real players, Mozzart Sport contacted the former Partizan member and the current Stark Arena executive director, Goran Grbovic, who addressed the matter.

"Listen, I know one thing -- if there is an incident, an object flies on the court or, God forbid, someone gets hurt because of it, the entire stands are emptied in 45 minutes, and Game 4 is played without an audience. So, be smart," Grbovic underlined.

"There is no doubt that the Stark Arena will be full again, but if the rest of the EuroLeague playoff series are under scrutiny, then this one will be under a microscope. Believe me, they will wait for the smallest possible mistake in order to issue a punishment," the 62-year-old added.

Grbovic then explained in more detail what he had exactly meant.

"EuroLeague has its supervisors around the gym, which is quite normal. When the announcer asks the fans to move away from the aisles during the game, you think it's an accident. No, nothing is accidental. Someone from the EuroLeague reports that it has to be done. Now imagine what kind of control will be and how many eyes will be on Belgrade under such tensions."

Partizan head coach Zeljko Obradovic was the first man to calm the fans down after the infamous Game 2 events.

Just after the game finished, the winningest European coach sent a message to Partizan fans, wanting to make sure that the conflict doesn't evolve into something much worse.

"What I would like is for our fans to understand that this is part of the sport, the players talked among themselves, and that should be the end of it. In these two games, we encountered phenomenal hospitality from Real. Everyone here felt it, I believe all of you who are here have felt it as well," Obradovic told the media in the mixed zone.

"I think that we in Belgrade should reciprocate that, so that no player, member of the coaching staff, or Real fan feels uncomfortable. We should send the image from Belgrade as it has always been at our matches. I will repeat it until the game, and I want us to talk only about the game before the game," he concluded.

Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday at 20:30 CEST.

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