The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) announced Monday their punishments over both the Shanghai Sharks and Jiangsu Dragons upon conducting a recent investigation on their alleged game-fixing.
Both clubs – participating in the league’s playoffs this year – are disqualified, with their standing in the 2022-23 season getting erased. They were also fined 5 million yuan ($727,135) while the officials of the matches that stemmed their controversy were banned for years. This sum seems unreal but actually, you can learn how to reach it at toponlinecasinoaustralia.com/games/slots.
Shanghai head coach Li Chunjiang and Jiangsu’s top mentor Li Nan – two of the well-known strategists in Chinese basketball – were slapped with a ban from registering as a basketball coach for five and three years, respectively.
As such, general manager Shi Linjie, who handles the Dragons, gained a five-year suspension from getting any basketball-related job. The same sanction went in for Sharks general manager Jiang Yusheng, but on a three-year basis.
The two clubs were under fire from the uproar of Chinese hoops fans due to a lopsided three-game opening round series.
After delivering a 119-95 demolition against Jiangsu in Game 1, Shanghai oddly sat out most of its key players heading to Game 2, ultimately bowing down on a 97-90 loss.
The series-deciding Game 3 ultimately triggered the temper of Chinese fans on their face-off. Taking a 100-96 lead with 96 seconds remaining in regulation, Jiangsu suddenly allowed Shanghai to blitz for a 10-0 late rally without showing such competitiveness – testament of their turning the ball over for five-straight possessions. Amid the run, no timeouts were called at the side of the Dragons, which ultimately resulted a 108-104 for the Sharks to notoriously advance to the quarterfinal round.
In a press conference, former NBA superstar and current CBA President Yao Ming expressed his deepest dismay on the match-fixing that were orchestrated by both clubs.
“We conducted a very prudent investigation to help us make the decision based on precise matters. We believe that everybody feels quite distressed about this,” said Yao, per China Daily.
“For sports games, the most important thing is reputation, rather than ability. Credit is what everybody, every team, the league, and the association is based on. We need to draw a profound lesson from this and change some things in the future to make what we have paid for valuable.
“That’s all I can say. We need to express our steadfast attitude and grief at this moment,” Yao ended.
