The Changwon LG Sakers of South Korea's professional basketball league have decided to kick their American center off the team for using violence on the court, the club said Friday.

In addition, the Korea Basketball League (KBL), the national basketball governing body, decided to ban Pervis Pasco for life and fine him 5 million won (US$ 5,361).

Pasco is the first foreign player in KBL history to be expelled for violence.

In an away playoff game Thursday between the Sakers and the Busan KTF Magicwings, Pasco grabbed an opposing player by the neck and then shoved a referee onto the court after he was thrown out.

"Though we are facing a series of crucial games to reach the championship series, we decided to send Pasco home in a meeting after the game," said an LG official. "In the meeting, we reconfirmed that violence cannot be justified in any game."

LG signed the center to a one-year contract last year. The graduate from Kansas State University averaged 9.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game during 51 games this season.

Despite Pasco's absence, the Sakers rallied to win the fourth game of the best-of-five series with the Magicwings.

Seoul, April 13 (Yonhap New)