Dante Exum was injured as a EuroLeague basketball game between the Australia’s Partizan Belgrade and Real Madrid descended into chaos.
There were just under two minutes left in the game with Madrid trailing 95-80 and on the cusp of going down 2-0 in their playoff series against Partizan.
But the game wouldn’t even end up finishing after a hard foul by Madrid guard Sergio Llull on opposition forward Kevin Punter upset Partizan players.
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The benches were then cleared in chaotic scenes as punches were thrown and some players were even tossed to the ground, including Exum.
The Australian was body slammed to the court by former Boston Celtics player Guerschon Yabusele and was left with a bloodied mouth and broken toe.
Exum was later pictured leaving the stadium on crutches with Partizan’s doctor Moma Jakovljevic telling media he feared the injury could have been far worse for the Australian.
“The tendon in his second toe has ruptured,” Jakovljevic told Telegraf.
“Serious injury. He will have to go to Belgrade on crutches, so we can film him there. His upper lip was also injured.”
“The way Yabusele threw him with a judo move, that’s for prison, for life suspension,” he added, speaking to Mozzart Sport.
“As Yabusele threw him, Exum could have broken his spine, seriously injured his head, and ended his career. This was terrible. I have never seen this in my life.”
Madrid captain Rudy Fernandez apologised for the incident after the game.
“After what we have experienced today, we have to say sorry to our fans, to every basketball fan,” Fernandez said.
“We can’t watch this kind of incident, but as players we have emotions and we make mistakes. Today was one of these days.
“The tension has to stop here and we will have to play just a game of basketball for the fans to enjoy the EuroLeague.”
