Last minute news! Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) Deputy Chairman Ömer Onan reacted harshly to what happened in the Turkey-Georgia match in the 2022 European Championship and to the attack on the national player Furkan Korkmaz in the dressing room corridor.
“GEORGIA’S OFFICIAL POLICE HAS A FIGHT WITH US”
Onan, who made a statement to the press after the match played in Tbilisi Arena, where the crescent-star team was defeated 88-83 in two overtime episodes, reminded that the national player Furkan Korkmaz and Georgian basketball player Duda Sanadze were disqualified in the tense match, and said:
“As Furkan was going to our locker room with a conditioner next to him, they attacked the players who were not playing in the corridor, along with the kicked players and the police. The match was over, we lost, 30 policemen on both sides of us started a fight in front of the locker room. Georgia’s official police had a physical fight with us. From here, FIBA We are calling out to FIBA. I have told the officials of FIBA. Let no one deceive themselves and think that no one is stupid. They will bring all the camera footage in that corridor to us, minute by minute, without missing a second. If they don’t, I spoke with the President, Hidayet (Türkoğlu). We leave this tournament.”
“WE WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE TOURNAMENT”
Emphasizing that no one was harmed in the European championships organized by Turkey, Ömer Onan said, “We will almost bump into each other in the corridor with the Georgian police. It’s not ‘no, 2 seconds are missing’ or something. All the cameras will be looked at one by one. We will see the decision they will take on him. Sorry if they don’t do this very urgently, our players are very valuable, we will not let any of these children get hurt. We will withdraw from this tournament. We will withdraw from this tournament. A tournament like this will not be held. ” he said.
“WE WILL TALK TO OUR CONSOLE”
Stating that the biggest mistake in the incident was FIBA, Onan said, “The biggest mistake here is FIBA. There have been a thousand shortcomings since the day we arrived. Players go 45 minutes from the hotel to the hall. But if you can’t get the safety of two players here. Then you won’t do this job. We will talk to our consul here now. Security should come. Obviously, they will not protect. We are also talking to the President, Hidayet. They will bring all the cameras in front of us.” expressed an opinion.
“I HAVE SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE”
Explaining that there were some Georgian players in the attack in the corridor, Ömer Onan said, “Players who did not play, Shengelia… Will the man playing the match go to the locker room, 3 players? 3 players playing on the side enter. I became both a player and a manager, it was the first time in my life to do such a thing. I saw it. It is where people who are so selfless and self-conscious gather together… FIBA is responsible for this.” made its assessment.
Onan, arguing that a rule mistake was made in the match, said, “That is a separate issue. There is no point to be held, we objected. The captain’s signature is required. We will deposit his money, we will see. Net rule mistake.” said.