According to *Quotidiano Sportivo*, Alessandro Gentile has been pardoned
According to *Quotidiano Nazionale*, Alessandro Gentile has been pardoned. The Urania Basket Milano star had been suspended for two games due to his conduct as he left the court in Avellino. According to the official statement, the player—who was ejected for accumulating technical fouls—raised both arms and flipped off the crowd, continuing the gesture all the way to the tunnel leading to the locker rooms; video of the incident is circulating widely online. This behavior, according to the Sports Judge, further fueled the spectators’ reaction, even necessitating the intervention of law enforcement. Hence the decision to impose a two-game suspension on the player, pursuant to Article 33, paragraph 4, letter c, of the Disciplinary Regulations.
The player had been ejected during overtime of the Serie A2 game that Urania lost 93-85 at the PalaDelMauro. Gentile had already been called for an unsportsmanlike foul in the second quarter, while in overtime, his prolonged protests over a referee’s call cost him a technical foul and his subsequent ejection. As he left the court, he responded to the insults and jeers from the home crowd first with sarcastic applause, then with the middle finger. Gentile finished the game with 17 points, shooting 7-for-17 from the field.
The Campania-based club was also sanctioned: Halley Campania Avellino will have to pay a fine of 1,667 euros for the collective and frequent insults directed by its fans specifically at Gentile, a clearly identified opposing player. After reviewing the match reports from Wednesday’s games, the Disciplinary Committee penalized a total of seven clubs: six other clubs were fined for the behavior of their respective fan bases, for a total of 6,325 euros. The heaviest fine was imposed on Libertas Livorno (1,833 euros), followed by Forlì (1,667), Pistoia (875), Cento (825), Turin (750), and Sassari (375).
Following the incident, Urania also issued a statement, offering an official apology and distancing itself from the actions of its player. “An act of this kind is in no way consistent with the principles and values that our club shares every day with our partners, sponsors, fans, players, and families who are part of the Urania community,” the statement reads, emphasizing respect, fairness, sportsmanship, good manners, and a sense of responsibility. The club also stressed that anyone wearing the red-and-blue jersey “has a duty to set an example, especially for the many young athletes.”
On the court, the loss leaves Urania with just one league win, at the bottom of the standings alongside Montecatini. Avellino, led by Francis’s 26 points, secured its eighth win of the season, climbing to a tie for first place with Libertas Livorno. For the Milanese team, Gentile’s 17 points and Morse’s 15 weren’t enough in a game where Sacripanti’s squad had climbed back from a 17-point deficit (44-27) to take the lead, before Francis tied the score at 82-82 with half a minute left in regulation.
