Darussafaka's home EuroCup game moved to Serbia

By Emre Asikci

ANKARA (AA) - Darussafaka’s game against Italy's Virtus Bologna was moved from Istanbul to the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Wednesday, due to travel restriction for Italians placed by Turkish Airlines.

"The Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul - Segafredo Virtus Bologna game for Round 6 of the 2019-20 7DAYS EuroCup Top 16 has been rescheduled to be played in Stark Arena, Belgrade on Thursday, March 5, 2020, with tip-off at 18:15 CET," said a statement released on EuroCup’s website.

The statement said the game would be closed to spectators to guarantee the safety and security of participating players, coaches and referees, and to avoid the spread of coronavirus at the request of the Serbia's health ministry.

- Latest decision major disappointment

The head of the Turkish Basketball Federation Hidayet Turkoglu criticized the "incomprehensible" decision by Euroleague as a "major disappointment."

''This incomprehensible decision by Euroleague, despite our efforts and all the other options recommended by Darussafaka Tekfen is against all values and spirit of the game,'' said Turkoglu.

"The controversy with the situation arises from the simple fact that the head coach and some other players of Virtus Bologna are from Serbia, thus creating an unfavorable shift against sportsmanship and undesirable environment for our club Darussafaka Tekfen."