Basketball: Dismissals bring game to standstill
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.HEMEL HEMPSTEAD'S Budweiser League game with Birmingham Bullets on Saturday night came close to being abandoned by the referee Keith D'Wan when the Royals' Mike Carty refused to leave the court after being disqualified.
D'Wan, secretary of the English Association of Basketball officials and an international referee, dismissed Carty and Birmingham's England international Tony Simms for a bout of 'nose to nose trashing'.
Carty then refused to leave the court and D'Wan said: 'He kept coming back to confront Simms and after the third or fourth time I told him to leave the arena completely.' When he refused, D'Wan told the table of officials and commissioner 'that's it, I've had enough. I'm abandoning the game.'
D'Wan's threat calmed the situation and, after a cooling off period, the final seven minutes were played, with Birmingham beating Hemel
84-72.
D'Wan's report to the English Basketball Association's disciplinary committee will also contain his personal view that the incident reflects the poor professional standards being set by players and their clubs.
Thames Valley Tigers, the league leaders, lost 91-89 at home to Doncaster Panthers, but second-placed Manchester Giants lost 75-72 at Leicester City Riders.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments