Basketball’s ruling body on Monday launched an investigation into Australia over suspicions that they deliberately lost a group match at the World Cup to avoid playing the United States.
Australia, who rested two of their top players Joe Ingles and Aron Baynes, lost to Angola 91-83 in their last Group D game in Gran Canaria last Thursday. The Australians lost 65-64 to Turkey in the last 16 on Sunday to crash out of the tournament altogether.
“The on-court behaviour displayed by Australia in that game (against Angola) generated huge disappointment by basketball fans and experts,” said a FIBA statement.
“It is widely suspected that Australia lost that game in order to avoid having to face the reigning world champions USA until the semi-finals,” it added.
Basketball Australia can state its case to the governing body before FIBA decides whether disciplinary sanctions are imposed, the statement said.
Australia’s defeat ensured that they finished third in the group. Angola ended the group second bottom with just two wins.