ATHENS, Greece – The disappointment of Croatia’s Olympic Qualifying defeat to Greece seemingly followed their star players off the court and into a late-night altercation. TMZ obtained footage of a brawl involving Croatian centres Ivica Zubac and Dario Saric at the Bolivar Beach Bar near Athens early Monday morning.
The cause of the incident remains unclear. The video starts with Zubac already engaged in a physical confrontation. Security personnel intervened to separate the participants, with footage suggesting Saric may have been placed in a chokehold during the scuffle. After tempers subsided, security escorted both players out of the establishment.
This incident comes on the heels of Croatia’s heartbreaking 80-69 loss to Greece on Sunday, which dashed their hopes of qualifying for the upcoming Olympics. Zubac put up a valiant effort with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Saric contributed 14 points. However, Greece, led by NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, secured their first Olympic berth in 16 years.
According to TMZ, there are no reports of police involvement at the scene. Both Zubac, a key member of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Saric, who recently finished a season with the Golden State Warriors, are expected to face disciplinary action from their respective teams.