Zalgiris fined 30,000 euros and partially closed

The disciplinary decisions of the Euroleague have made clear the competition's stance regarding the behavior of clubs, fans, and coaching staff. In the early rounds of the season, several violations have been recorded, resulting in significant fines and conditional restrictions for the involved teams.

Zalgiris Faces the Harshest Penalty

The Zalgiris Kaunas takes the brunt of this cycle of disciplinary punishments from the Euroleague. The Lithuanian club has been fined 30,000 euros following events that occurred during their match in the second round against Olympiacos, played at home. The main reason for the punishment was the display of banners in the arena, a practice that violates the conduct rules established by the continental competition.

Beyond the financial penalty, the Euroleague has ordered the Zalgiris a capacity restriction in their venue. According to the provisions, the club must limit attendance to 80 percent of the total capacity of the arena during a match, including the closure of specific sectors of the stadium. However, this measure has been conditionally suspended, meaning it will not take effect immediately.

Restriction Suspended Until the 2026-27 Season

The conditional suspension of the capacity restriction for the Zalgiris implies that the measure will remain on hold during the current season and the next, as long as the club does not commit new violations. However, if the Lithuanian team again violates article 29.1.f) of the Euroleague disciplinary code, the restriction will automatically take effect starting from the 2026-27 season.

This strategy of conditional punishment is common in European competitions, as it allows clubs a second chance while maintaining a clear threat over future misconduct. The Zalgiris must exercise extreme caution in its upcoming home matches to prevent the capacity restriction from being enforced.

Details of the Restrictive Measure

The limitation to 80 percent capacity is not a minor measure. It entails that the club must close entire sections of the arena, which affects both the experience of fans and ticket sales revenue. Additionally, such a restriction impacts the atmosphere of the stadium, a crucial element in professional basketball where fan support plays an important role in sporting performance.

Red Star Sanctioned for Offensive Chants

The Red Star of Belgrade has also been subject to disciplinary sanctioning by the Euroleague. The Serbian club was fined 7,000 euros following incidents recorded in the match of the second round against Hapoel Tel Aviv. The reason for the punishment was the offensive chants made by their fans during the match.

Sanctions for fan behavior are becoming increasingly common in European competitions, reflecting the determination of regulatory bodies to maintain coexistence and respect in the stadiums. The Red Star must implement stricter control measures in future matches to avoid new sanctions of this nature.

Erdem Can Fined in the EuroCup

Outside of the Euroleague, in the EuroCup competition, the coach of Turk Telekom, Erdem Can, received a fine of 10,000 euros. The punishment was imposed for failing to comply with the instructions of the refereeing team during the match of the first round that his team played at home against La Laguna Tenerife.

Disobeying refereeing instructions is a serious offense in any professional competition. Referees are responsible for maintaining order and discipline on the court, so failing to follow their directives can result in severe penalties for both players and coaching staff. Erdem Can must be more careful in his future actions to avoid incurring new violations.

These disciplinary sanctions set a clear precedent for the rest of the season. The Euroleague and the EuroCup demonstrate that any breach of conduct rules, whether by clubs, fans, or coaches, will be punished exemplary. Clubs must take note and reinforce their internal control systems to avoid future sanctions that could impact their competitive and financial standing.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zalgiris castigado con 30.000 euros y cierre parcial