China

CBA suspends men's team after serious brawl

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-13 18:05

BEIJING -- The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Wednesday suspended the men's national team following their overnight brawl with a Brazilian team, and apologized to the visitors.

The whole team halted their training camp and players involved in the incident are facing penalty, which will be announced after the CBA finishes the investigation.

Tuesday's match was the third one between the two teams at Xuchang, Henan Province. The Chinese team was preparing for the Asian Games next month in Guangdong Province.

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Several players exchanged punches and kicks just 1:06 minutes into the game as the Chinese protested against some dubious calls.

The game was stopped and the Brazilians were heading to the locker room. As the Chinese players gave chase to the retreating visitors, two sides fought again.

"This is a serious brawl which heavily damaged the relationship between the Chinese and Brazilians," said a statement issued by the CBA on Wednesday afternoon. "We are sorry for what happened in Xuchang. The CBA apologized to the fans, the media and to the Brazilian team."

Xiao Tian, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, called an emergency meeting with CBA officials in the morning.

"We have suspended the national team pending the further investigation. Players, coaches and the team manager who were involved in the incident will be punished," said Li Jinsheng, CBA's deputy president.

Li and other CBA officials went to the Beijing airport to pick up the national team and the Brazilian team right after the brief news conference at the CBA headquarters.