A viral infection has affected six teams and a dozen players during the FIBA U18 European Championship (taking place in Niš, Serbia), as reported by RMC Sport this Wednesday.
The FIBA U18 European Championship, held between July 22 and 30 in Serbia, is facing a series of difficulties. After problems with slippery courts, the competition has been hit by a worrisome spread of a viral infection, seriously disrupting the matches. On Wednesday, despite the challenges, the games eventually resumed, but the shadow of the infection still looms over the event.
This viral infection has hit hard six participating teams, including renowned nations like Spain and Slovenia, and has also affected a dozen players. The symptoms reported by the infected individuals were particularly concerning, including abdominal pain, fevers, and diarrhea.
The affected teams were given the opportunity by FIBA to postpone their matches, but none of them accepted. However, the basketball governing body remains optimistic about the rest of the tournament. “Some team members are still weakened by the infection, but the majority of those affected have either recovered or are on the verge of a full recovery,” the organization stated in a press release.
Slippery Courts Before the viral infection, the FIBA U18 European Championship had unfortunately been marked by a recurring problem: slippery courts, which resulted in several player injuries. During the match between Turkey and Poland, the situation reached a critical point: due to the humidity and lack of air conditioning, players refused to attempt any shots in the last minutes and eventually decided to boycott the end of the game.
This situation was further dramatized by the incident involving Polish player Jakub Szumert, who lost consciousness during a training session. Following this event, it was announced that he would no longer be able to participate in the rest of the competition.
