Chinese Taipei, which won a dramatic win-and-you’re-in game on home soil to qualify for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, will pay a fine for a rules violation at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier held at the Taipei Dome last month.
According to the Taipei Times, the Chinese Taipei team, put together by the Chinese Professional Baseball League, the top league in Taiwan, was found to have a staff member using a cell phone in a storage room during their 12-5 loss against Spain on February 21 and fined $20,000.
Tournament rules prohibit the use of electronic devices by any team personnel who have access to the dugout or bullpen during games.
Officials noticed a large discrepancy between the number of people credentialed and the number of people entering and leaving the dugout, the Taipei Times reported. World Baseball Classic officials then warned Chinese Taipei about allowing unauthorized access to their dugout, and officials began strictly enforcing access.
The Taipei Times reported that a team from Major League Baseball, which organizes the World Baseball Classic, inspected the Chinese Taipei dugout and “found some electronic equipment, including phones, computers and printers, which resulted in an immediate fine.”
Chinese Taipei officials were warned that further violations could result in disqualification.
The Chinese Professional Baseball League covered the $20,000 fine and pledged to strengthen staff training to prevent further incidents, the Taipei Times reported.
