Australia’s national basketball team might be in trouble.
FIBA is investigating a World Cup group-stage game between the Aussies and Angola, which determined how deep into the tournament the Australians potentially would have played against the powerhouse United States squad.
Because Australia lost, it finished third in its group and delayed a potential meeting with the Americans until the semifinals. Meanwhile, Slovenia, which finished second, will play the United States in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
Slovenian guard Goran Dragic noticed something wasn’t quite right after Australia lost 91-83 to Angola and took his frustrations to Twitter.
Basketball is a beautiful sport, there is no room for fixing the game like today Australia vs Angola!! @FIBA should do something about that!
— Goran Dragic (@Goran_Dragic) September 4, 2014
FIBA says “it is widely suspected” that Australia intentionally lost to increase its chances of reaching the semifinals and at least playing for a spot in the third-place game. However, the Aussies’ alleged ploy didn’t pay off. They lost to Turkey in their Round of 16 game, 65-64.
Before handing out a punishment, FIBA asked Basketball Australia to “state its case.”
