Lithuanian Basketball Fan Fined After Racist Taunts

A Lithuanian basketball fan was fined more than $3,000 for making racial taunts during Lithuania’s men’s basketball game against Nigeria.

The fan admitted to making Nazi gestures and monkey chants during the game. Lithuanian basketball officials were warned to control any racist behavior by their fans before their game against the United States on Saturday. Patrick Baumann, the secretary general for the International Basketball Federation, said racist behavior will not be allowed.

“We are absolutely against any of this and we have indicated to the Lithuanian delegation that it would be better for them if they were to communicate with their fans,” he said according to a report from the Associated Press.

Baumann also said continued racist behavior could lead to punishments that extend beyond the 2012 London Olympics. A spokesman for the London Organizing Committee said Olympic officials are ejecting fans from arenas for racist gestures or taunts.

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