Surrey Scorchers Players Banned for Life in Major Match-Fixing Scandal

_{Basketball players were tarnished after cheating. (Image: Mariano Garcia/ Alamy Stock Photo)}

Five former Surrey Scorchers basketball players have received bans ranging from 10 years to lifetime suspensions for involvement in match-fixing during the 2022–2023 British Basketball League (BBL) season.

The sanctions were issued following a comprehensive investigation led by FIBA in collaboration with the British Basketball Federation (BBF), Gambling Commission, Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU), and the GB betting industry.

The nature of the Offences included players who were found to have accepted payments to manipulate the outcomes of BBL matches or were involved in the planning to do so. At least six Surrey Scorchers matches were implicated.

The investigation found that there were breaches, including manipulating match results and failing to report suspicions or knowledge of match-fixing, both in violation of the FIBA Code of Conduct and BBF Anti-Corruption Policy.

Match fixing has been in the news from snooker players to darts players, all of whom have been caught and punished respectively. 

Players Handed Down Punishing Sanctions

All the players involved in the investigation were sanctioned and fined. The players were all given the opportunity to appeal.

Quincy Taylor and Charleston Dobbs received lifetime suspensions and £3,000 fines issued by the BBF; bans extended globally by FIBA. Neither player appealed.

Shakem Johnston and Padiet Wang received lifetime global suspensions from FIBA, with eligibility for possible future reduction.

Joshua McFolley was suspended from global basketball until September 2034.

Dean Wanliss was fined and suspended for three years for betting on basketball matches between 2019 and 2021. This was investigated separately by the BBF, FIBA, Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), GB betting industry, and the International Olympic Committee Monitoring Unit.

FIBA, BBF, and Affiliated Bodies Reaffirm Stance on Betting and Corruption

In a statement British Basketball said: 

“FIBA, the British Basketball Federation, its members… and the British National Championship Leagues, are jointly committed to a zero tolerance to betting and corruption in basketball in Great Britain.”

This high-profile case reinforces ongoing efforts to protect the integrity of sport through firm disciplinary action against corruption.