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Serb Krstic fined $43,950 and banned over mass brawl

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-08-27 11:43

NEW YORK - Serbian center Nenad Krstic of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder has been suspended for three games and fined 45,000 Swiss francs ($43,950) over last week's mass brawl at a basketball tournament in Greece.

Nenad Krstic (L) of Serbia throws a chair against Greece's Ioannis Bourousis (C) during a basketball game of the Acropolis tournamnet in Athens August 19, 2010.  [Photo/Agencies]

Fellow countryman Milos Teodosic and Greek players Antonis Fotsis and Sofoklis Schortsanitis were banned for two games, the sport's governing body said on its website (www.fiba.com) on Thursday.

The suspensions will keep the four players out of the opening games of the world championships in Turkey which start on Saturday. The Serbian and Greek federations were also fined 20,000 Swiss francs apiece.

Krstic was arrested before later being released without bail after allegedly hitting Yiannis Bourousis with a chair as the Greek player tried to break up a fight during the Acropolis Tournament final in Athens last Thursday.

Police said Krstic was charged with causing actual bodily harm but this was a misdemeanour offence under Greek law, normally punishable with a fine.

The mass brawl caused the game to be abandoned.

"FIBA believes its judgement will send a strong message to all players that their behaviour on and off the court must be exemplary and in line with the rules of basketball at all times," the governing body said.