Red Star cannot accept the defeat against Buducnost in the 20th round of the AdmiralBet ABA League.
Buducnost won in Belgrade last night after overtime 96:89. The Blues led throughout the regular season, playing a great match, while Red Star took the lead in overtime for the first time.
The "red-whites" believe that there were 11 referee decisions to their detriment.
"After the match of the 20th round of the ABA League between Crvena zvezda and Buducnost Voli and the recurring events (to which we did not react before), we will not remain silent! We have no right to remain silent about the open 'robbery' of the referee trio (Javor, Petek and Porobić) on Monday evening in Belgrade! Because how else can we call the events of the match of the 20th round in which as many as 11 referee decisions were to the detriment of our team? That is not called ignorance - but intent!", the "red and whites" stated in a statement.
The star doesn't stop there.
"For a team that played its fifth game in just nine days, with this schedule, and had to be 15-20 points better than its rival with these decisions, it was too much! Coincidentally or not, this trio of referees actively participated with their decisions (which we now have the right to openly doubt were coincidental) in the outcome of the 12th round of the ABA League derby in Belgrade, thereby directly shaping the clubs' positions in the standings," Red Star believe, adding:
"KK Crvena zvezda has a million-strong army of fans behind it, it invests enormous efforts (as well as financial resources) to be a competitive participant in all competitions, fights for trophies and is one of the biggest clubs thanks to which the ABA League finds sponsors and attracts media attention. That is why it does not occur to us to remain silent about such attempts to have referees create the position of clubs in the table, and not those who should do it – the players on the field. That is why we would like to remind the league management once again – that referees are a service to the clubs for which they are exceptionally paid, and not people who will be directly asked about the clubs' position in the table, and the first 'stars' of the league that you will persistently protect, rarely punish, even when they make obvious and catastrophic mistakes"
Red Star is expecting a response from the ABA League.
"Therefore, we ask that in your response that may follow, do not call our advertising pressure on referees. Our statement is the last call for you, who run the ABA League (and are also exceptionally well-paid by the clubs), to do your job properly! If you are perhaps exposed to various types of pressure off the field (and to which some have shown in the past that they are prone), then it would be nice if you informed the public and our club about it, because we have warned you before - KK Crvena zvezda will NEVER be a backdrop for someone's ambitions, and in pre-staged performances like the one yesterday - we will not participate", Zvezda announced.
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