Latvian Basketball Federation condemns racist comments against national team players
The Latvian Basketball Union's secretary general has publicly condemned racist remarks made on social media against national team players. The union says it will not tolerate such behavior and has already contacted international basketball organizations.
Kaspars Cipruss, secretary general of the Latvian Basketball Union (LBS), posted a statement on the social platform "X" condemning racist and discriminatory comments recently directed at Latvian national basketball team players on social media.
Players targeted over their background
According to the statement, the union has encountered several unpleasant incidents in recent days where players were criticized based on their skin color or origin. Cipruss noted that Latvia's national teams include young players with diverse family, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, many of whom were born and raised in Latvia, educated in Latvian schools, and trained in Latvian clubs, and who have chosen to represent the country.
Union's stance
Cipruss stated that racism and discrimination are neither a matter of opinion nor a form of humor, and have no place in Latvian basketball's values. The federation said it will not tolerate such incidents and has already contacted an international basketball organization, requesting that such comments be removed immediately and that monitoring of the digital environment be strengthened. If necessary, the union is also prepared to turn to Latvian law enforcement authorities.
Cipruss acknowledged that the federation cannot control everything written online, but said it can choose how to respond, calling for solidarity with players regardless of their background.
