Here’s one way to slow down the fearsome-looking Fenerbahce Ülker: detain a key starter. It seems as though Romain Sato won’t be suiting up for his side’s Euroleague game against Union Olimpija after being detained at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport yesterday afternoon for an alleged violation it’s a bit difficult to believe…
Reported the Slovenia-based Kosarka, “Kranjska Police confirmed yesterday that they arrested a foreign national who did not have the relevant documents. ‘On October 18, 2012 at around 14:30, border control officers at Pučnik Airport found that the 31-year-old man, a citizen of the Central African Republic, had arrived with a false passport. Police officers have detained the man and today the case will be referred to the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Kranj.”
And that sound you just heard was hundreds of Euroleague fantasy basketball managers shrieking in anguish…
Update: Fenerbahce officials are firing back at Slovenian authorities’ handling of the matter. Explains Euro-Step, the Turkish club’s official website unleashed a barrage of criticism vis-a-vis the holding of Sato in Ljubljana, calling Sato’s detainment an “international scandal at the bureaucratic level, not merely simple friction between two Euroleague clubs.”
Translated the ‘Step further: “The approach of Slovenian officials against a person who has a Schengen visa and has visited bunch of other European countries as well as the United States with the same passport cannot be understood.”
Tags: Euroleague, Euroleague 2012-13, Fenerbahce Ülker, Romain Sato, Union Olimpija
This is nothing other than Slovenian officials looking after their club. It is a scandal and shows Slovenia has no place being in European leagues.
Jeremy, Sato’s passport has different serial numbers than document he provided for his schengen visa. His passport has page manually added and is same not originally issued.
Lol, and Fenerbahce still won. Let’s all hope this really is a case of a faulty passport and not Olimpija shenanigans, or else it would be very pathetic
If Sato really did this, then there is something really odd here. Why would he need to do that? This is one of the weirdest basketball stories ever.
[...] Monday hangover: It’s all about Fenerbahçe Ülker +++ While Fenerbahce readies for Olimpija, Sato awaits prosecution [UPDATED] +++ BallinEurope’s 2012-13 NBA Preseason Preview and Power Rankings +++ Enes, Ersan, Ömer and [...]
[...] Passport-gate begins. After the team’s charter flight lands at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, Romain Sato is detained on charges of traveling with a forged passport. While Sato is spending just about 24 hours in custody, rumors that the forward could be extradited [...]
[...] Passport-gate begins. After the team’s charter flight lands at Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, Romain Sato is detained on charges of traveling with a forged passport. While Sato is spending just about 24 hours in custody, rumors that the forward could be extradited [...]
[...] you thought Romain Sato having to spend 24 hours cooling his heels in a Ljubljana airport was serious stuff? Just imagine the same situation, except with the additional headache of not [...]