Luol Deng Calls Out Referees As South Sudan Get Dumped Out Of 2024 Olympics

Luol Deng, the president of South Sudan Basketball Federation and a former NBA All-Star, did not hold back in his criticism of the referees following South Sudan’s elimination from the 2024 Olympic Games. In an impassioned post-game address, Deng called out what he perceived as biased officiating in South Sudan’s 96-85 loss to Serbia.

"I thought Royal said a lot that I agree with. I've been a part of a lot of games. You know, my whole career, coaching for the last 3.5 years, I thought it was deliberate blatantly. We couldn't be as aggressive as they are."

"I know that Serbia is known for basketball. They've been great for many years. The way the guards play, it's almost like the ref knows them. So it's okay for the refs if they know certain players, to let them play their style. As soon as our guys play their style, we get fed every time." 

"It's almost like there's a narrative and a stigma out there that African players are aggressive. I don't know why there are no African referees in the Olympics. It is 2024. Well, I don't know what's the reason for that? You could say whatever you wanna say. But you know, if we're representing the continent, we gotta be represented fully." 

"And that's something that we gotta keep on working on. But if these referees are not familiar with our game or our style, then I don't know what the World Cup or the Olympics is. Is it just a European basketball style? And we're not allowed to be aggressive?"

Deng’s frustration stemmed from a significant disparity in fouls and free throws during the game. Serbia was awarded 31 free throw attempts, sinking 21 of them, compared to just 6 for South Sudan, who managed to hit 5. Additionally, South Sudan was called for 24 fouls, seven more than their Serbian counterparts.

The officiating disparity was not lost on South Sudan's head coach, Royal Ivey, who also expressed his discontent. 

"The officiating in the loss to Serbia was a travesty. … I need an answer. I’m baffled. … My guys are in there in tears. … I’d rather lose by 30 than have this happen to us,” Ivey stated, highlighting the emotional toll on the players."

South Sudan’s team, known for its aggressive, high-pressure defense, felt constrained by the refereeing, which they believed unfairly penalized their style of play. Deng argued that the referees’ lack of familiarity with African basketball led to an uneven application of the rules, disadvantaging his team. Despite the setback, Deng remained proud of his team’s efforts and the progress South Sudan has made in international basketball.

South Sudan’s journey to the Olympics has been remarkable, considering they only started competing in major FIBA tournaments three years ago. Their debut in the Olympic Games saw them secure one win in three games, a testament to their rapid development and potential.

Deng’s call for more African representation among referees at the Olympics underscores a broader issue of diversity and fairness in international sports. As South Sudan continues to build its basketball program, Deng hopes for a future where all styles of play are respected and officiated fairly, allowing teams to compete on an even playing field.