Kickert lands right in the thick of trouble with FIBA
DANIEL Kickert is facing a long international suspension but Australia is likely to avoid the harshest punishments from the all- in brawl that has shocked the basketball world.
FIBA has opened an investigation into the fight during Monday night’s World Cup qualifier in the Philippines.
But Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore has warned the sport’s global governing body is in “new territory” as it prepares to sift through incredible footage of dozens of players, officials and even fans trading blows.
Kickert sparked the flashpoint by elbowing Filipino guard Roger Kogoy’s face in the third quarter of the game, which was later abandoned with Australia leading 89- 53.
Moore described that incident as “unsavoury” and said it would be “challenging to defend”, but the Sydney Kings centre is certain to cop the full brunt of FIBA’s wrath.
Kickert was retaliating to Kogoy’s raised forearm hit on Chris Goulding, who was later set upon by Philippines players and coaches – one of whom threw a chair at him.
Aside from Kickert’s actions, most of the Boomers appeared to be acting in self- defence or teammates.
The fact that Filipino bench players rushed to join the chaos while Australia’s restrained themselves won’t help their cause when disciplinary proceedings begin, and nor will the seemingly lax security measures that allowed the incident to occur.
There could be further sanctions, including the possi- trying to protect bility the Philippines could be kicked out of qualifying or even stripped of their 2023 World Cup hosting rights.
The country is slated to cohost the tournament along with Japan and Indonesia but Moore said the Philippines Basketball Association needed to guarantee it could be done safely.
“We’d need the assurances of PBA and FIFA,” Moore said.