Qatar national basketball team coach Ali Fakhroo was sacked on Saturday. He had been under intense media scrutiny after his players’ unruly behavior at the recently-concluded FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan,China.

Qatar’s participation in the continental event ended in disgrace when they opted to return home without playing the tournament’s second round.

Its players had deliberately fouled out of preliminary round matches against Kazakhstan and Iran, in protest against the disqualification of five of their team-mates. Qatar Basketball Federation President Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani had resigned from his post last week.

Fakhroo was unavailable for comment.

American Matt Skillman has been named as the team’s new coach.

Re-posted from Doha Stadium Plus with permission

Photo by Gonzalo Andres