A fan of the Lithuanian basketball team has been fined $3,910 after making racially offensive gestures towards the Nigerian team during a game this past Tuesday.
Basketball officials have been asked to control the country’s fans during the Olympic Games. But a lawyer for the client stated that he believed the behavior was acceptable during a home game.
“The gesture and chanting of this fan and all others was totally misunderstood and misinterpreted by the undercover police officers who made the arrest,” a group of fans said in a Friday media statement.
They said the extending of one or two arms after clapping is a common gesture at sporting events and “is in no way meant to represent the Nazi salute.”
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International Basketball Federation secretary general Patrick Baumann came out to say that racist behavior wouldn’t be tolerated, as well as the FIBA forcing Lithuania officials to make sure the fans “behave properly.”
He added said:
“We are absolutely against any of this and we have indicated to the Lithuanian delegation that it would be better for them if they were to communicate with their fans.”
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This type of behavior is completely uncalled for at games, and we hope that officials can keep the fans in line.
SOURCE: Yahoo
