MIES, Switzerland — An Italian basketball team was forced to forfeit a European game on Tuesday after being left with just one player on the court, resulting in an automatic loss and elimination from the competition.
Trapani Shark, reportedly facing financial difficulties, appeared for a FIBA Champions League playoff game against Israel’s Hapoel Netanel Holon in Bulgaria with only five players, two of whom were making their professional debuts. During the first quarter, three players reportedly stopped playing for unknown reasons. When a fourth player fouled out with about three minutes remaining in the quarter, the game was halted because Trapani had “fewer than two players on the court ready to play,” according to competition organizers. At that point, Holon was leading 38-5.
This was Game 1 of the play-ins to reach the round of 16. FIBA rules state that a team losing by forfeit or default in the play-ins or playoffs automatically loses the series, allowing Holon to advance.
Trapani’s future remains uncertain. The club said it participated in the match to avoid a “draconian” fine of €600,000 ($700,000). The team has faced fines and sanctions from the Italian Basketball Federation this season and recently chose not to play a league game against Virtus Segafredo on Sunday.
