The always combustible world of US college basketball has been ignited once again, as a heated on-court altercation between two of the sport’s brightest young stars has set social media ablaze.

The incident occurred during a hotly contested match-up between the University of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and her counterpart Angel Reese of Louisiana State University. With tensions running high, Reese was seen to throw a punch at Clark, resulting in the officials issuing a flagrant foul penalty.

Unsurprisingly, the controversial moment has triggered a fierce online debate, with fans accusing the referees of potential bias in their handling of the situation. Many have taken to social media to voice their outrage, with some claiming the officials went too easy on Reese and should have issued a harsher punishment.

“That was a clear cheap shot, no doubt about it,” vented lifelong basketball enthusiast Gordon Partridge. “If the roles had been reversed and it was Clark punching Reese, I guarantee you the ref would have come down a lot harder. There’s definitely an element of double-standards at play here.”

However, others have defended the officials, arguing that the flagrant foul call was appropriate given the circumstances. They contend that while the physicality on display was undoubtedly excessive, it did not warrant an ejection or more severe sanction.

Regardless of where one stands on the issue, there is no denying the ferocity with which this debate has gripped the American sporting public. With reputations and legacies on the line, the fallout from this Latest basketball brouhaha looks set to rumble on for some time.