Zezelj: Incident should not bring negative conclusions about Goodyear league

Since the group of hooligans attacked Red Stars's director Igor Zezelj and journalist Daniel Bukumirovic on late Friday evening ABA and organizers of the Final Four held a press-conference. »Immediately after the incident we had the emergency meeting where we all condemned what happened in front of hotel Panorama. We were shocked when we heard what happened to our friend and member of our league Igor Zezelj. That was the action of a group of hooligans, an action nobody with a common sense would do,« said director of Goodyear League Josip Bilic who attended the conference along with Cibona's director Bozo Milicevic, ABA's director Radovan Lorbek and Igor Zezelj.

»As organizers we did everything we could to prevent from such incidents. Security was at the high level. I sincerely appologize Igor Zezelj. But I am convinced it was not he who was attacked. It was a person from Belgrade since the hooligans saw a car from S&MN in front of the hotel. They did not even know who Zezelj is,« added Bozo Milicevic, director of the club that organized the tournament.

Radovan Lorbek admitted they did not expect any incidents as the season passed without similar problems but nonetheless everything was done for a high security. »It proved once again that even if you do everything, radical things still may happen. Since the season was very calm without clashes and incidents we thought it is done with such things. I am happy we do not have to speak about the worst scenario. Igor even used black humour saying a basketball Cup with his name will not be played now.«

A the end Igor Zezelj gave his statement: »I speak as the director of Crvena zvezda. Me personally and my club invested a lot in Goodyear League and playing it is in the interest of all among us. I really don't want this incident that happened to me brings negative conclusions about the league. The organization of the tournament was very good. Nonetheless I want us to do everything in the future that this would be the last incident. This League is primarly sport but also bussiness and I want it proves as the right project also in the future.«