FIBA opens investigation into Türkiye vs Georgia EuroBasket group game

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), world basketball's governing body, has opened an official investigation into an alleged fight outside the dressing room after a EuroBasket group game between Türkiye and Georgia.

"After carefully reviewing the case material, including the CCTV videos, FIBA has opened disciplinary proceedings for engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct against the following players: Goga Bitadze, Duda Sanadze, Tornike Shengelia, Furkan Korkmaz and their respective national federations," FIBA said in a statement Thursday.

FIBA added that they requested all sides to provide their position on the investigation before deciding on any applicable disciplinary measures.

Following the game, which took place Sept. 4, the general coordinator of the Turkish Basketball Federation, Omer Onan, said FIBA must produce all the “minute by minute” footage from the corridors around the Türkiye-Georgia 2022 EuroBasket Group A game played in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

Near the end of the game, Türkiye's Furkan Korkmaz was disqualified for arguing. On the way to the locker room, he and other Turkish players were attacked by some Georgian players and police, the Turkish side claims.

In the Group A clash, Georgia defeated Türkiye with a 88-83 double-overtime victory.

The Turkish national team also lost its head coach Ergin Ataman, who was ejected from the game due to a disqualifying foul in the second overtime.