The NBL has warned all 10 clubs it has “zero tolerance” for public criticism of referees, sending a memo on Monday after Illawarra coach Justin Tatum singled out an official following the Hawks’ heavy loss to Adelaide.
The memo, obtained by ESPN and confirmed with multiple sources, states the league has “zero tolerance for any player, coach or Club staff member publicly questioning the integrity of referees.” It is signed by NBL chief operating officer and head of basketball Vince Crivelli and chief legal and governance officer Lauren Blecher.
ESPN reported the memo followed a round in which Tatum and Melbourne United’s Cole Anthony made public criticisms of NBL officials.
Tatum named referee Chris Reid after the Hawks’ 106-78 loss to the 36ers on Saturday night, saying “the league sends us Chris Reid”.
“We’ve found a way not to have him as much as we can, but at the end of the day, we still got to play through it,” Tatum said.
ESPN reported Tatum’s comments are being reviewed by the NBL.
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What the memo bans
Under the memo, players, coaches and club staff must not criticise or express disapproval of “a referee, a refereeing crew, their performance or their decisions”, or single out an individual referee by name or description.
It also rules out indirect criticism “through sarcasm, innuendo, gestures, emojis or imagery”, or through pointed references to free-throw counts, foul counts or specific calls, and bans players and staff from liking, sharing or reposting other people’s content that criticises referees, including on personal, private or anonymous accounts.
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According to ESPN, the rules apply in season and in the off-season, in every public forum, and “to comments made both on and off the record.”
Three players charged after 36ers-Hawks scuffle
The same game also drew charges from the NBL’s Game Review Panel, Fox Sports reported, after a fourth-quarter altercation at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre with 3:51 remaining.
Illawarra guard William Hickey was charged with striking, graded intentional with medium impact to the body. He faces a one-game suspension, which an early guilty plea would reduce to a $1,550 fine.
Adelaide import Nick Rakocevic was charged with unsportsmanlike behaviour, his second fixed financial offence in the current or previous two seasons, and faces a base fine of $1,550, or $1,165 with an early plea. Hawks big man Makur Maker, who was ejected after a flagrant foul, was charged with engaging in a melee, brawl or scuffle and faces a $775 base fine, or $585 with an early plea.
Both clubs can accept the early guilty pleas or appeal the findings.
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