Italian Player Quits Seton Hall in Wake of U.S. Flag Dispute

Marco Lokar quit the Seton Hall basketball team and withdrew from the university today, saying he and his wife received threats after he refused to wear the American flag on his uniform to show support for troops in the Persian Gulf.

Lokar said in a statement that he and his pregnant wife planned to returned to his home in Trieste, Italy, so she could give birth in “tranquility and peace.”

In his statement, the sophomore guard defended his decision not to wear the flag, saying it would have shown support for war, something which he said he cannot do as a Christian.

Coach P. J. Carlesimo was not immediately available for comment. Lokar’s home phone was not answered.

“The consequences of my decision have been quite surprising to me,” Lokar said in the statement released by the university. “I have received many threats directed both at me and my wife, Lara, so that our life has become very difficult here.

“In order to complete her pregnancy in tranquility and peace (which is more important than anything else to us) we have decided to return to our hometown, Trieste.”

Lokar ended his statement with the phrase, “Peace be with you” and signed his name.

Lokar was booed every time he touched the ball in a recent game against St. John’s, and school officials said he has been mulling his decision for several days. He did not accompany the Pirates to their last two games and has not practiced with the team.

While the flag flap was given as the reason for his decision to leave, Lokar’s playing time also has diminished this season. He has shot just 28% from the field.

Lokar also has had to worry about supporting his wife and their expected child and he could earn good money playing professionally in Italy.