South Sudan basketball coach

Following a 96-85 loss to Serbia in the men's basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics, South Sudan's coach Royal Ivey and basketball federation president Luol Deng accused referees of bias against their team. They highlighted a significant foul discrepancy, with Serbia attempting 31 free throws compared to South Sudan's mere six, which Ivey described as a 'travesty.' Deng criticized the absence of African referees in major tournaments, suggesting that a lack of familiarity with African playing styles negatively impacted officiating. Both Ivey and Deng expressed frustration over perceived preferential treatment towards Serbian players, noting that their team was penalized for aggressive play while Serbian players were not. This loss eliminated South Sudan from the tournament, allowing Greece to secure the final wild card for the knockout round. Despite the defeat, South Sudan's performance raised questions about fairness in officiating and representation in international competitions.