Artest, O'Neal, Jackson, Wallace indefinitely suspended

Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson of Indiana and Ben Wallace of Detroit were suspended Saturday for involving in the ugliest brawls in United States sports history.

NBA's statement said the suspensions were indefinite, and the league was still investigating Friday night's melee involving fans.

Artest, O'Neal and Jackson all of whom threw punches at fans during the fight at the end of Friday night's Pacers-Pistons game were to begin serving their suspensions Saturday night, when the Pacers played a home game against Orlando.

Wallace's suspension will begin with the Pistons' next home game, Sunday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.

The incident was called by NBA commissioner David Stern as "shocking, repulsive and inexcusable a humiliation for everyone associated with the NBA".

The league's statement also said NBA was reviewing rules and security procedures "so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night."

"Our investigation is ongoing, and I expect it to be completed by tomorrow evening," Stern said in his statement.

The brawl was shocking, with Artest and Jackson bolting into the stands near center court and throwing punches at fans after debris was thrown at the players. Later, fans who came onto the court were punched in the face by Artest and O'Neal.

Wallace began the fracas by delivering a hard two-handed shove to Artest after Wallace was fouled on a drive to the basket with 45.9 seconds remaining. After the melee broke out, the referees called off the remainder of the game. The Pacers won over Detroit 97-82.

Source: Xinhua