Nepal Basketball Association and Nepal Basketball League on Thursday imposed suspension on multiple players and officials including a three-match ban on Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) skipper Robin Khatri for unsporting behaviour as the league has been called off for a second consecutive day after referees raised concern over their security.

The decision was made a day after the match between table-toppers Army and Times International Club was decided in double Over Time but not before going through a tensed situation with the game stopped on numerous occasions due to poor behaviour from the Army dugout.

After Times won the match 103-96, the match referees had to be taken away from Army supporters, who were in an attempt to manhandle the referees claiming they were biased. Khatri was believed to be at the centre of all the troubles and was handed a three-game ban for his unsporting behaviour.

“After consultation with NeBA officials, managers and coaches, we decided to hand Khatri the ban because he was recorded to have used foul language, instigated the crowd and showed over aggressive behaviour,” said Arun Karki, president of organisers Play for Deprived Children Nepal. Khatri had also vented ire by kicking the ball at the end of the match.

“It took a lot of hard work for us to launch this tournament in Nepal because it is organised by people who are actually job holders and have to spare a lot of time. Financially, it is even tougher to organise the tournament because it runs for 55 days on home and away format. We had to take this decision because we cannot let anyone spoil this environment created in domestic basketball,” said Karki.

Times coach Prem Hona and centre Bikram Joshi were also handed one-match ban each for their aggressive behaviour during Wednesday’s game. After the tournament referees refused to officiate in any further games showing concern over security, the matches on Thursday and Friday have also been called off. “The referees are saying they will only take to the court after the organisers assure them of security. We have also received reports that the referees are being threatened via mobile phones by Army fans,” informed Karki.

Nepal Police Club coach Abhishek KC and manager Devu Jung Shah have also been banned for one match each for their unsporting behaviour during the game against Golden Gate International Club on May 6. Golden Gate coach Bipin Kapali was also handed one game ban for the similar offence during the same match. Golden Gate player Sushil Gurung has to serve one-game ban for misbehaving with the organisers. Also serving one-match ban was South Siders Basketball Club coach Sadina Shrestha for her unsporting behaviour during the match against Kirtipur Basketball Club on May 2.