3 floors fell in an elevator, players were injured – and FIBA forced them to take the court

Five players of Azerbaijani basketball club Ganja were injured when their hotel elevator in Turkey collapsed three floors the day before a EuroCup game. FIBA refused to postpone the match and forced the team to play with a depleted roster. Coach Martin Knezhevich harshly criticized the handling of the situation.

Five players of the Azerbaijani basketball team Ganja were injured when the elevator in their Istanbul hotel collapsed three floors, the day before an away EuroCup game against Turkish side Esenler Erokspor. The players were miraculously rescued without life-threatening injuries but suffered bruises that left them unfit for full play. The team appealed to FIBA for an urgent postponement, but the organization refused and insisted the game go ahead. Ganja took the court with a depleted roster of only ten players, two of whom were unable to play. The Turkish team exploited the physical and mental advantage, winning 63:92. Coach Martin Knezhevich launched a scathing attack on social media, accusing the host team of housing the squad in a particularly cheap hotel and directing sarcastic criticism at FIBA for ignoring the request.