BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Basketball’s governing body is investigating if Australia deliberately lost a World Cup game to delay a possible matchup with the United States.
FIBA says “it is widely suspected that Australia lost” on purpose to Angola in a Group D game last Thursday in Las Palmas, Spain. The Angolans won 91-83.
FIBA says Australia’s “on-court behavior… generated huge disappointment by basketball fans and experts.”
The result meant Australia could not meet the favored Americans until the semifinals.
Slovenia finished above Australia in the group and will play the U.S. in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
Australia’s alleged strategy did not work out in the end. The team lost 65-64 to Turkey on Sunday and was eliminated from the tournament.
FIBA has asked Basketball Australia to “state its case” before deciding on possible disciplinary sanctions.
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