Pops-Begic-Printezis fined, suspended. Olympiacos behind closed doors

Euroleague Basketball's independent disciplinary judge has handed out suspensions and fines to three players involved in a fight at the end of last week's game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul. In addition, the judge has fined Olympiacos for incidents during the game at Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus and ordered the team's next home game to be played behind closed doors, without fans.

The judge handed out the following sanctions against the players, all for physical aggression against another player as prohibited under article 26.1, paragraph (a) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code, which was approved by all clubs in the ECA Shareholders Meeting:
 
- Mirza Begic of Olympiacos Piraeus has been sanctioned with disqualification for four games together with a fine of €15,000.
 
- Georgios Printezis of Olympiacos Piraeus has been sanctioned with disqualification for three games together with a fine of €10,001.
 
- Pops Mensah-Bonsu of Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul has been sanctioned with disqualification for three games together with a fine of €10,001.
 
The suspensions would mean that all three players will miss the rest of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season and Mirza Begic would also miss the first game off the Top 16, for which Olympiacos has already qualified.

Additionally, the independent disciplinary judge sanctioned Olympiacos with four separate fines and ordered its next game played behind closed doors, without fans, in accordance with the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code, as follow:

- €10,001 for the aggression by the public on a player under article 28.1, paragraph (e) of the code.
- €6,000 for the lighting of fireworks inside the arena under article 28.2, paragraph (e) of the code
- €8,000 for the use of laser pointers under article 28.1, paragraph (f) of the code.
- a fine of €15,000 together with the next Olympiacos Piraeus home game to be played behind closed doors, for the incidents generated by the public, including the throwing of objects onto the court, under article 28.2, paragraph 1 (g) of the Code in conjunction with article 28.1, paragraph (j) of the code.
 
All of the sanctions above may be appealed before the corresponding appeals bodies of Euroleague Basketball.
 
The fight between Olympiacos and Galatasaray broke out following a made free throw with 3 minutes, 8 seconds left to play in the fourth quarter as Olympiacos was leading Galatasaray 71-44 in Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season. Olympiacos went on to win the game 72-54.