Melbourne United slam rival coach's 'disrespectful' comments after shocking 'targeted' claim
A war of words has erupted between Melbourne United and the Cairns Taipans amid accusations that a player was injured after being "targeted" by opponents.
Following a game between the two NBL sides, Taipans coach Adam Forde pleaded for protection for his one of his players, Keanu Pinder, after he suffered a serious ankle injury in the contest.
Pinder hurt his ankle when he landed on United forward Mason Peatling's foot during the game, but Forde suggested that the incident wasn't simply an accident.
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"It's one thing to send a double team, it's another thing to have guards sliding in at all different angles to try and draw, whether it's a charge, a block, or a no call, regardless of what the officials call it, the result is Keanu is picking himself up off the floor. That's jeopardising his ankles, that's jeopardising his health," he said on Thursday.
Pinder being guarded by United big man Isaac Humphries during the clash between the two teams Jonathan DiMaggio via Getty Images
"I'm asking for protection for Keanu out there because they [United] make no secret about him being targeted, they make no secret about him being a key focus of their defence, but the reality is he's so dynamic, he's so athletic and so gifted that they don't have anybody necessarily capable of defending him one-on-one."
United was left fuming by Forde's claims and did not mince its words in a statement on Saturday afternoon.
"Every team's best player is subject to extra defensive attention, however for an opposition coach to suggest intent to injure by our players is disrespectful and plain incorrect," a club statement read.
"Melbourne United's players and coaches pride themselves on playing the right way and have a clear history of doing so."
Pinder was left in a moon boot as a result of the injury and remains sidelined with a lateral ligament strain.
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