Thunder center Krstic of Serbia fears world championship suspension after brawl in Greece

Serbia’s Krstic fears FIBA punishment after brawl

BELGRADE, Serbia — Oklahoma City Thunder center Nenad Krstic said Monday he fears he’ll be suspended for the world championships because of his role in a bench-clearing brawl during Serbia’s game against Greece.

Krstic hit Greek player Yannis Bouroussis in the head with a chair in the fight that broke out during the Acropolis tournament last Thursday in Athens.

FIBA, the international basketball federation, said it will review the incident and announce possible sanctions by Wednesday.

“It’s not killing me, but I can’t say I’m not a bit nervous,” Krstic said of a possible suspension. “What keeps me calm is that I no longer can do anything about it.”

Krstic said earlier that he picked up the chair in self-defense after Greek fans and players rushed toward him.

The incident occurred before the Aug. 28-Sep. 12 basketball world championships in Turkey, where both teams will play.

Another Serbian player who could face sanctions, Milos Teodosic, said he was sorry about the incident.

“Sincerely, I’m ashamed about the fight, and I apologize to the people in Greece and Serbia,” said Teodosic, who plays for Greek team Olympiakos.

Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic said if Krstic and Teodosic are suspended, “We won’t be able to make it through the group stage.”

Serbia, the runner-up at the European championship last year, plays in Group A with Angola, Argentina, Australia, Germany and Jordan. Greece, second at the last worlds in 2006, is in Group C with China, Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, Russia and Turkey.