During group play in the 2024 Paris Olympics, one of the best games featured Japan and France.
France entered as heavy favorites but the game went into overtime largely due to a stellar performance from Japan’s Rui Hachimura, who is a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. He looked like a star for his country during the game against the host nation of France.
After hitting multiple 3-pointers to bring his scoring total to 24 points with around nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Hachimura was called for his second unsportsmanlike foul of the game after making contact with France’s Rudy Gobert.
It was a bad mistake for Hachimura after already having an unsportsmanlike foul on Bilal Coulibaly from earlier in the half because this was an automatic ejection under FIBA international basketball rules.
After review, the call stood and he was ultimately disqualified. France went on to take the game into overtime and then secured a victory.
Fans couldn’t believe the decision
Refs just ejected Rui Hachimura for an unsportsmanlike foul. An absolutely horrendous decision. Beyond absurd.
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) July 30, 2024
Japan needs to protest this game
Rui ejected on the softest unsportsmanlike foul you’ll ever see and a phantom foul 4 point play to tie the game
— Slightly Biased (@BiasedSlightly) July 30, 2024
Lol the refs had to bail out France and disqualify Rui Hachimura from the game when he was on fire.
Pathetic.
— Brian (@BrianBevo10) July 30, 2024
I’m not respecting that France win either, they needed some homecooking and a fluke Rui ejection to beat Japan.
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) July 30, 2024
They really kicked Rui out of the game vs France IN France. Let me stop before I get called a “conspiracy theorist.”
— GRADS (@MGRADS) July 30, 2024
You’ve gotta be kidding me on that Rui ejection
— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) July 30, 2024
Unsportsmanlike for that and throwing Rui out of the game for that is some of the worst officiating I’ve ever seen. Refs just took the game from Japan.
— 500 🏎 (@Kameron_Hay) July 30, 2024
Ha ha France is getting the craziest home-cooking basketball officiating in recent memory.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 30, 2024
There needs to be an inquiry into the 3 refs for this France vs Japan game. The Hachimura ejection for a normal foul is wild. Then the given 4 point play at the end of the game? Refs really making sure the home team doesn't flame out. #OlympicGames
— Dev Green (@devgreenxv) July 30, 2024
Ejecting Hachimura from this game would be preposterous.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) July 30, 2024
