Aug 4, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Lithuania fans cheer before a preliminary round game against USA during the 2012 London Olympic Games at Basketball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
A Lithuanian fan was fined for making racist chants and gestures during a basketball game against Nigeria.
A Lithuanian basketball fan was fined more than $3,000 for making racial taunts during Lithuania's men's basketball game against Nigeria.
The fan admitted to making Nazi gestures and monkey chants during the game. Lithuanian basketball officials were warned to control any racist behavior by their fans before their game against the United States on Saturday. Patrick Baumann, the secretary general for the International Basketball Federation, said racist behavior will not be allowed.
"We are absolutely against any of this and we have indicated to the Lithuanian delegation that it would be better for them if they were to communicate with their fans," he said according to a report from the Associated Press.
Baumann also said continued racist behavior could lead to punishments that extend beyond the 2012 London Olympics. A spokesman for the London Organizing Committee said Olympic officials are ejecting fans from arenas for racist gestures or taunts.
For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub. For more on Olympic basketball, follow the 2012 Olympic basketball section.
There is 1 Comment. Load Now.
Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.
C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read
R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next
Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read
Comment Settings
Live comment alert: Hide it!
Comments for this post are closed.