March 15 (Reuters) - Two Zalgiris Kaunas fans who assaulted Real Madrid guard Rudy Fernandez last week have been banned for life from attending Euroleague matches, the competition's ruling body said on Friday.
"Euroleague Basketball has decided to ban for life the access or participation of the aggressors, the brothers Nauris and Normunds Macius, in any event directly organised by the company, including ... Euroleague and Eurocup games," Euroleague Basketball said in a statement.
"The aggressors were arrested, identified and are apparently under criminal investigation, while the situation was promptly settled thanks to Real Madrid staff, the Zalgirio Arena security and police."
Zalgiris Kaunas was also fined 25,000 euros ($32,500) for the incident.
Former Portland Trailblazers shooting guard Fernandez was attacked by the Macius brothers, widely known in Lithuania as the leaders of die-hard Zalgiris fans, after Real players were boarding the team bus following their dramatic 105-104 overtime win in Kaunas last Thursday.
The result put Real on the verge of reaching the best-of-five quarter-final playoff series from their top 16 pool of eight teams and they can secure their passage later on Friday when they entertain fellow Spaniards Unicaja Malaga at home.
The incident after the Kaunas game came on the back of Fernandez scuffling with several Zalgiris players during Real's equally dramatic 75-74 home over the Lithuanian side in the reverse fixture last month.
Euroleague is the continent's premier club competition, featuring 24 teams in the preliminary group stage, 16 in the second group stage and eight in the playoffs, while the Eurocup is a second-tier tournament.
The winners of the Euroleague's quarter-final series will advance to the May 10-12 Final Four in London's O2 Arena, which will also host the 2014 showpiece event as the competition aims to win fans in Britain.
($1 = 0.7704 euros) (Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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