FIBA’s rulings after Australia and the Philippines’ massive brawl in Manila are not good enough and questions must be asked of the governing body. Questions like, do they even care?
The brawl was undoubtedly the craziest thing seen on a basketball court in recent history. Fans, coaching staff and benches were all involved. Heck, players who weren’t even part of the game were involved.
Everyone was involved in the now infamous incident which saw the Australians win by default after the Philippines were first reduced to three players, then fouled themselves out to end the farcical contest.
The suspensions announced yesterday by FIBA fall well short of the mark needing to be set to send a message.
It almost feels like a missed opportunity for FIBA to lay the law down and stamp this kind of behaviour out of the sport. On the contrary, the ‘sanctions’ – if they could be called that – seem to encourage that this sort of behaviour will be followed up by a slap on the wrist with a wet lettuce leaf.
How a man who had a technical foul put on him and then ended up under a gang of ten opposition players and staff can be suspended is beyond me.
How a man who wasn’t even playing in the game can run off the bench in street clothes before coward punching Nathan Sobey, only to be suspended for five games is even more dumbfounding.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the Philippines have had ten players and two coaches suspended, but it’s the severity of those suspensions which have fans up in arms and calling the integrity of FIBA into question.
Who should cop the brunt of the fallout from the brawl? (Photo by George Calvelo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The suspension for Daniel Kickert is more or less correct. Five international games feels about right for his elbow. It was after a technical foul, but that doesn’t excuse the severity of it.
Chris Goulding, as I already mentioned, shouldn’t have been suspended. He could quite easily have ended up in hospital or worse under that wild pack attack behind the baseline, so what he did wrong I can’t quite work out.
Thon Maker had to be suspended as well. I would have said before the reading the Filipino suspensions three games felt about right as well – after seeing the level of sanctions handed down to the opposition team though, I’m of the strongest possible opinion he shouldn’t have been suspended at all.
At the end of the day, the Milwaukee Bucks’ forward’s running karate kicks weren’t a great look, but they were born out of defence for his teammates rather than the will to injure the opposition.
It’s a shame the same can’t be said of the actions from the host nation.
The heaviest suspension should have been handed down to Jio Jalalan. The non-playing member of the squad was sat on the bench, ran on and then got photographed punching Nathan Sobey in the jaw.
He got five. Yes, five games. The worst bit about that is, they are only international games. They can continue playing domestically during this time period, and of course, that goes for all players across both sides who got suspended by FIBA.
Daniel Kickert somehow got the same suspension as this man. It’s unbelievable. The punch delivered by Jalalan would have probably landed him up in a court room if it happened in the street – here, it’s a slap on the wrist.
Even happening on a basketball court, he should have got years from both domestic and international competition. To deliver a punch like that and not even be part of the competing squad is ridiculous. Something almost unheard of.
Every other player who ran off the bench should have been looking at lengthy bans as well – instead, a maximum of six games for any player means they will all be available should what will essentially be the Philippines B team qualify for the World Cup – that of course, will be a struggle from here on out with some tough games against Iran, Kazakhstan and Qatar to come.
Needless to say, the rest of the suspensions on the Filipino team are a joke. No one getting more than six games just goes to show how very weak FIBA have become in these matters.
The other part of this suspension grinding my gears is the coach – Vincent ‘Chot’ Reyes getting one game and a fine. How is that supposed to stamp this sort of behaviour out in the future?
While he never would have expected his players to jump into this sort of action, he did encourage his players to be aggressive in the timeout leading up to the incident. The fact he then proceeded to lay the blame on Kickert and the Australians following the incident is worrying.
He is going to be back in charge of this Filipino team for the second game of their second round qualifiers – is that really correct?
If you look at other sports, the suspensions handed down for incidents like this would be a lot more severe.
Heck, Aussie cricket captain Steve Smith copped a total of 43 matches, 12 months and a heavy financial penalty for being captain of a team who rubbed some sandpaper on the ball.
Disgraced Australian Cricket Captain Steve Smith reacts during a press conference. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
That wasn’t a great look of cause, but it’s got nothing on this. Absolutely nothing.
This incident could have easily had the power to kill someone if a punch in that pack behind the baseline had of hit Chris Goulding in the wrong spot.
It makes the suspensions handed to the Filipino players look weak as anything.
The only credit FIBA receive for this is making the Philippines play their next home game behind closed doors, as well as the fine of roughly $330,000 Australian dollars.
That is fair enough, but even in that FIBA missed a trick. The Philippines are scheduled to co-host the 2023 World Cup – given the actions of their staff and fans, the minimum should have been a stripping of any finals matches.
FIBA could have easily gone the extra mile and completely stripped them of their co-hosting right, which may have been over the top, but would have at least sent a message that no matter how passionate your fans, there is no place for violence like what we saw on that fateful night in Manila.
Even then, they should have been thrown out of the qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup. It almost feels like FIBA are trying to protect and keep the nation onside, hoping they may not naturally qualify because of the tough path they have been handed with most of their top players out.
If they do qualify, it’ll be a farce, with the images from that night in Manila coming back to haunt the World Cup and its image.
Regardless of what FIBA have done to the national association and their next home game, the rest of the sanctions handed down are nothing short of an absolute joke.
Right now, FIBA are the laughing stock of world sporting bodies.
The laughing stock of world sport. Period.
Troy Hanning
Roar Guru
Hey Scott, I was curious to hear how you thought the Basketbrawl incident was covered by Australian journalists? Maybe even in contrast to the way it was covered internationally? This is for a school assignment so it would really help if I heard your opinion on it.
Mushi
Guest
Do you follow basketball at all? Aussie (and kiwi or all non US 5o be fair) players are considered action not words type of players. Perhaps leave the village of pig ignorance, and then comment.
Brendon
Guest
I have no problem with Kickert being suspended. I think he has already accepted his international career is over since he's out for the rest of the qualifiers and he wouldn't be on the world cup team if our NBA and European players are available. The games Thon Maker is suspended for he wouldn't be playing in anyway since they're only a few weeks before the start of the NBA season. But FIBA was never going to go hard on the Philippines. I mean its FIBA and the Philippines was waaaay too much influence. And FIBA wonder why no one cares about the basketball World Cup and focus on the Olympics instead.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Scott...sadly nothing of subsequence was ever gonna come outta of this from FIBA. Bottom line it happened in da Phillipines... and the joke is on them. Seriously. I genuinely feel for the real Philippine B/Ball fan considering they have this sort of shyte in their national team!
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Weak as from FIBA, following the admin styles of international cricket, soccer and cycling. Seems to be big talk about codes of conduct, until there's actual incidents needing action. I do take exception to the description that Maker was somehow caught up in the moment of defending teammates. If that's true he has a massive character flaw if he believes kicking people is justifiable!
Swampy
Guest
I love how people get on here not so subtly defending the Philippines but are far too afraid to live there and prefer to gladly take on living in the Australian paradise of opportunity with such good wages, living standards and civility that makes up our wonderful country. The Philippines basketball team was a reflection of their nation as was the score in the game. Battlers requiring American assistance (Andrey Blatch) who are a third class basketball nation and never far from resorting to mob violence as an answer. It speaks volumes that the most respected individual in the Philippines is a person who belts people for sport. Scott's article is on point and reflects the views of a civilised nation.
Minz
Guest
Maker didn't hit anyone and was clearly defending his team-mates. Given what those who ran around hitting people got, 3 matches actually seems harsh.
Lionheart
Guest
You obviously haven't watched this incident on replay.
Simoc
Guest
Typical garbage from Scott. Australia started the trouble with Kickert and here we are squealing when we get our just deserts. Typical of wimps. What we saw was that basketball players are hopeless fighters. Powder puff stuff was why no-one got hurt. They demonstrated why they should just stick to basketball. FIBA is fine by the rest of the world of Basketball from international reports of the incident. It's you Scott and the feeble responders who look stupid. Kids crying.
Manboobs
Guest
Honestly both teams should have been thrown out of the qualifying rounds and disqualified from the World champs. Terrible, terrible optics on both sides bring shame to the sport. Aussies are some of the world's worst sledgers often going beyond what is acceptable, therefore should not be surprised when stuff like this happens. It's like the kid in class that gets constantly bullied and then one day snaps and goes nuts.
Swampy
Guest
Does FIBA share offices with FIFA in Switzerland? Bit of a laugh that the ref's got the longest ban. Failing to control the game - yet the Filipino coach who was audibly heard asking his players to play afoul gets one game? I'd imagine at some point the ref's were afraid for their lives. Other nations should just boycott playing there ever again. Australia should definitely boycott the world's there - despite the strength of our team. Ben Simmons should be sent nowhere that country. This is just the final act in a disgraceful mess.
BrainsTrust
Guest
You can't say the ICC is more lenient these were all LVL 4 offences. The penalty for Lvl 4 is 1 year to life which is assault on another player. The Phillipines are hardly crippled by the current sanctions. They have 6 matches left in qualifying.
josh
Roar Rookie
You don't know what you are talking about.
JamesH
Roar Guru
BTW, the cricket equivalent to FIBA is the ICC, not Cricket Australia (which imposed much harsher suspensions for the ball-tampering than FIBA has here anyway). 5 matches for a coward punch by a bench player is hardly evidence that FIBA has balls. Quite the opposite.
JamesH
Roar Guru
The allegations about Australian's calling the Filipinos 'monkeys' were a load of rubbish. The only known use of that word was on a fake Twitter account. Besides, the Aussies have players of African and Asian descent in their side - why would they effectively racially insult their own teammates? All the Aussies actually did prior to the physical stuff was pull off some decals and get involved in a bit of trash talk (that went both ways). Apparently that justifies Filipino camp deliberately tripping Australians pre-game and inciting a brawl.
Brendon
Guest
The rulings are pathetic to say the least. I have never witness such a gang land attack before in my life, and the Australian team should start seeing legal advice, especially Chris Goulding. I'd be out for justice as an individual because obviously FIBA can't be relied on for a fair and just ruling (the second they jumped off the bench, life suspension. We have all played some form of sport, and we all know thats not on.
JuBe
Guest
Agree wholeheartedly Scott. And then there was the team selfie after the act!
Internal Fixation
Guest
Sorry - wrong. You really should know a bit about basketball before commenting next time. The greatest "sledger" in the history of the game is also its greatest player. Trash talk is entirely accepted on the court and all the players know this. Haven't seen these brawls too often in the NBA where far worse is said on a nightly basis. Stop making excuses for criminal behaviour.
Rolls
Guest
The Aussies did a lot of sledging beforehand that contributed to this brawl and during the game not so innocent after all .the FIBA findings are very clear .at least this is a governing body with balls unlike the cricket version CA which has no balls.
bazza
Guest
125k for pulling off some slippery decals. Getting banned for being bashed what a joke. No problem with the sanctions for Maker n elbow guy. the fact the worse the other team got was only 1 game worse than the our worse is crap. Also the ref's got done for a year vs the coach for encouraging it they are soooooooooooo soft on this crap. Aussie coach stopped the bench coming into the fight. Which was good.