State basketball head banned over conduct at daughter's game

MELBOURNE, Australia – The head of a state basketball association in Australia has been banned from attending games for eight weeks after confronting a referee supervisor at his daughter's under-12 game.

Nick Honey, chief executive of Basketball Victoria, was given the suspension by the association's independent tribunal when he was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute, gross breach of the code of conduct and avoidable contact with an official.

The case was heard in February with the ban ending on May 2.

Honey has remained in his position and while he has been barred from attending games as a spectator, he can still attend games for work purposes.

A Basketball Victoria statement Friday said Honey had apologized for his actions.

"Mr. Honey realizes as the head of sporting organization he is held to a higher account than other basketball spectators and accepted his sanction without question," the statement said.

Local media said Honey had declined to comment on the ban.