Flames call on Basketball Australia to review tribunal system

The Brydens Sydney Uni Flames have called on Basketball Australia, the governing body of the WNBL, to overhaul its tribunal process following the result of an appeals tribunal announced this week. 

In December, Basketball Australia issued bans to UC Capitals head coach Paul Goriss and referee Simon Cosier for sharing Flames’ training footage in the lead-in to the WNBL season. 

The pair were found guilty of engaging in prohibited conduct under Basketball Australia’s National Framework for Ethical Behaviour and Integrity in Basketball by misusing inside information and engaging in conduct that would impair public confidence in the integrity and good character of basketball and its participants. 

An independent panel, established by Basketball Australia, found ‘no actual advantage’ was obtained by the Capitals through the actions of the pair in the lead-up to the season-opening clash, which the Flames lost by three points. The Flames were not asked to give evidence as part of that process. 

Basketball Australia then appealed those findings and formed an Appeals Tribunal on January 17 after it was established that the UC Capitals had obtained an actual advantage from the misconduct of its head coach Paul Goriss. 

In a statement released this week, the WNBL said the Appeals Tribunal, after hearing submissions from both parties, found: 

• unanimously that a reversal of the result should not be imposed as it would exceed that which is reasonably and proportionately required to punish the offences committed 
• by majority, that it cannot be comfortably satisfied that the advantage gained by the UC Capitals because of the misconduct of Mr Goriss was of such materiality and influence that it justifies the disqualification of the outcome of the game. 

In response, Flames owner and chairman Paul Smith issued the following statement: 

“The coach and referee were found guilty, and these are the facts,” Smith said. 

“The impact on the result was clear for anyone to see and the basketball community has rallied around us in support of that. 

“We accept the tribunal’s decision, as we should, but we disagree vehemently with the finding. 

“We thank Basketball Australia for appealing the original findings and we respectfully call on Basketball Australia to overhaul the tribunal process it currently operates under.”

The Flames take on the Townsville Fire at Qudos Bank Arena in the last double header of the season with the Kings.