As far as consequences go, losing the #1 on FIVB is pretty milquetoast. You know, it really is not that important whether you are #1, 2, 3 or 4. As long as you are still in top 6, it's all good. In volleyball, it's much, much less important (and prestigious) to hold world #1 ranking spot than in football, basketball, or even tennis.
Besides, what was the alternative? Let the A team play such exhausting tournaments as ECh and World Cup back-to-back, with less than a week of rest in-between?! Those 2 tournaments last a whole month between them. And then, to immediately begin a club season where every single member of Serbia's A team is playing an important role?!
They would be dead come Tokyo. If you want someone to blame, blame FIVB and their idiotic schedule, not Serbian volleyball federation or Terzic.
Well said, who cares if you are No.1 or No.2?