CBA suspends Shenzhen coach after match boycott crisis

Wang Jianjun, head coach of Shenzhen Leopards has been suspended for a season, as part of the Chinese Basketball Association's punishments stemming from the team's earlier withdrawal from a tournament, reports China News.

Players with the Shenzhen Leopards pull out of a basketball match against a team from Japan in Macao, September 22, 2017. [Photo: IC]

The Shenzhen team will also be prevented from competing in any awards selections in relation to the CBA or CBA league for a whole year.

The Chinese Basketball Association handed down the verdict because it deemed the Leopards' behavior "showed no respect to their rivals and the audience."

The Leopards team accpted the punishments and said Wang's replacement will be decided later.

Club officials have told Wang and his assistant coach to step aside from their posts prior to the CBA's decision.

On September 22, 2017, players of the Shenzhen Leopards, also known as Shenzhen New Century, pulled out of their match against Japan's Ryukyu Golden Kings about 2/3 into the last quarter at the Super 8 championship in in protest of the actions of referees.

The final scores between the Shenzhen Leopards and their Japanese adversary, Ryukyu Golden Kings, were 51-65 in Macao, September 22, 2017. [Photo: IC]

The match boycott led Ryukyu Golden Kings to a 65-51 victory.

The invitational tournament features eight professional clubs from the Chinese mainland, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan. The competition started in Macao on September 20 and ended on September 24. A team from Japan claimed the championship.