Turkish Coach Erdem Can Ejected After Outburst at Israeli Referee

Turkish basketball coach Erdem Can was ejected from a EuroCup game after a severe outburst directed at Israeli referee Amit Back. The incident occurred during the opening round of the EuroCup season, when Can's team, Turk Telekom, lost 82-75 to Tenerife. In the fourth quarter, Can vehemently protested a no-call that he believed should have gone to his team. His protests continued into the next possession, culminating in him storming onto the court and shouting at Back. Can was immediately assessed two technical fouls and ejected from the game. He required assistance from two members of his coaching staff to leave the court, as he refused to calm down.

Can has a history of contentious behavior, notably during Turk Telekom's quarterfinal victory over Hapoel Jerusalem in the same competition last season. Following that win, Can celebrated ostentatiously with a Turkish flag, stating, "I think this was a game where we represented our country properly. Reaching the semifinals and winning away against such a tough opponent was important. We see raising our flag proudly everywhere as the most beautiful thing in the world right now. One of our biggest motivations was to beat Hapoel Jerusalem and be able to raise this flag."