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China basketball teams thrown out after match-fixing claims

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Yao Ming watches Chinese celebrations after the 2022 FIBA Women" s="" Basketball="" World="" Cup="" Semi="" Final="" match="" between="" Australia="" and="" China="" at="" Qudos="" Bank="" Arena="" in="" September="" James="" EPA-EFE="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/04/17/basketball_yao-ming_epa-(1).jpg"/><figcaption>Yao Ming watches Chinese celebrations after the 2022 FIBA Women&#x27;s Basketball World Cup Semi Final match between Australia and China at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, September 30, 2022. James Gourley, EPA-EFE/File.</figcaption></figure></div> SHANGHAI, China -- Two teams were disqualified from the ongoing Chinese Basketball Association season on Monday after suspicions of match-fixing, with Yao Ming bemoaning a &quot;sorrowful weekend&quot;.The Shanghai Sharks overtook the Jiangsu Dragons in the last two minutes of a CBA playoff game on Friday after the Dragons lost possession of the ball multiple times.The Sharks -- where CBA president and NBA all-star Yao began his professional career -- won the game 108-104, advancing to the quarter-finals.The match sparked fury among basketball fans on Chinese social media and allegations of match-fixing. The CBA said on Saturday that it would investigate the game.The CBA did not use the phrase &quot;match-fixing&quot; on Monday and instead accused them of &quot;passive playing&quot; during two recent games involving the teams, state broadcaster CCTV reported.In addition to being disqualified from this season, both teams had their budgets slashed by five million yuan ($730,000).Their head coaches and general managers have been slapped with suspensions of three to five years, CCTV said.&quot;Both clubs have a long history... and both teams have produced milestone figures,&quot; Yao said in video footage published by the state-run China News Service.&quot;The more we talk about it, the more pain we feel,&quot; said the 42-year-old, who starred for the Houston Rockets in the NBA between 2002 and 2011.© Agence France-Presse

Two teams were disqualified from the ongoing Chinese Basketball Association season after suspicions of match-fixing, with Yao Ming bemoaning a 'sorrowful weekend.'