Luol Deng Voices Frustration Over Refereeing After South Sudan's Defeat to Serbia

— Luol Deng, the former NBA player and architect of South Sudan’s men’s basketball program, has voiced concerns over perceived bias against his team following their 96-85 defeat to Serbia, which marked the end of their historic Olympic journey. Deng highlighted a troubling lack of African representation among referees, noting that only one of the 30 officials at the Olympics is from an African federation. He questioned whether a narrative exists that portrays African players as overly aggressive, suggesting that this perception influences officiating decisions. Deng expressed frustration over the officiating style, implying that it favors European basketball norms while penalizing the more aggressive play often associated with African teams. He emphasized that this is not merely a personal opinion but a widely recognized issue within the basketball community. The former player’s comments reflect a broader concern regarding the inclusivity and fairness of officiating in international competitions. After the game, South Sudan's coach, Royal Ivey, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the referees, recounting a tense exchange where he felt ignored and threatened with ejection. Ivey, who has been coaching the team since May 2021, noted the emotional toll on his players, who were left in tears after giving their all in the match. His remarks underscore the challenges faced by teams from underrepresented regions in high-stakes competitions. The South Sudan team’s Olympic experience has sparked a conversation about the need for greater diversity and understanding in sports officiating, particularly as the global basketball landscape continues to evolve.