The closing moments of the France-Slovenia matchup sparked considerable controversy, placing Sylvain Francisco at the center of a heated debate.
Many critics questioned the sportsmanship of his final play, which came after he had already shaken hands with Luka Doncic.
Francisco received backing from his coach, Frederic Fauthoux, who highlighted the strategic context of the action.
“It’s important for the goal average, because we don’t know what might happen tomorrow or Tuesday. So all baskets are important; we need to score. This is true, it’s not about disrespecting your opponent,”
Fauthoux explained, defending his player’s decision within the framework of EuroBasket group standings and potential tiebreakers.
Despite the defense from his coach, Francisco admitted to the French media that he recognized he could have handled the situation differently.
Recounting the handshake with Doncic, he said, “I should have told him: ‘No, defend, I’m going to attack.’ Suddenly, I remembered the basket average. I regret shaking his hand too early; that’s what I told him afterward. I accept what happened. We have to move forward now.”
Sylvain Francisco: "I regret shaking Luka's hand too soon"#Eurobasket https://t.co/kf6aj58c7V
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 31, 2025
