Player Who Wouldn’t Wear Flag Leaves Seton Hall to Return to Italy

Marco Lokar could deal with the booing and even the nastiness after he decided not to wear the American flag on his Seton Hall basketball uniform. The threatening telephone calls that upset his pregnant wife were another matter.

On Wednesday, Lokar put an end to the problem. He quit the basketball team, withdrew from Seton Hall and announced plans to return to his native Italy.

“The consequences of my decision have been quite surprising to me,” Lokar said in a statement released by the school. “I have received many threats, directed both toward 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.”

Coach P.J. Carlesimo and Athletic Director Larry Keating expressed sorrow, but said the sophomore guard would be welcome to return next year. The scholarship remains intact, they said.