EuroLeague Official Visits Israel to Scout Referees, Discuss League's Return
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Kostas Rigas, a representative of the EuroLeague Referees Association, visited Israel to scout local referees for the league's expansion. He observed a domestic game and stated that while he feels comfortable, the return of EuroLeague games to Israel is a political decision. Rigas also commented on recent refereeing scandals in Greece, calling the situation "ugly" and hoping it doesn't spread.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- EuroLeague official Kostas Rigas visited Israel to assess referees for the league.
- Rigas is part of the EuroLeague's referee recruitment program due to league expansion.
- The return of EuroLeague games to Israel is described as a political decision.
- Rigas expressed personal comfort but acknowledged regional complexities.
- He called recent refereeing scandals in Greece "ugly" and hoped they wouldn't spread.
Kostas Rigas, representing the EuroLeague Referees Association, visited Israel to evaluate local referees for potential inclusion in the European basketball league. Rigas, who had not visited Israel in 15 years, is part of the EuroLeague's referee recruitment program, which is expanding due to the league's growth. He observed a game between Maccabi Rishon LeZion and Maccabi Tel Aviv as part of his assessment.
Rigas expressed that while he personally feels comfortable in Israel, the decision to bring EuroLeague games back to the country is a complex political matter beyond his purview. He acknowledged that all aspects of the current situation in the region must be considered. He stated that significant efforts are being made in Israel to host EuroLeague games again.
Discussing recent scandals involving Greek referees, Rigas described the situation as "ugly" and expressed hope that it would not spread across Europe. He noted that something "not right" was also occurring with a former EuroLeague referee manager, suggesting a broader issue. Rigas emphasized his desire for basketball, particularly the EuroLeague, to continue as it is the "number one sport" in Europe in his opinion.
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Coverage from N12
