Those refs have also been suspended, and a special committee has been set up to look into the matter.

The case may now cause more radical changes.

Solid defensive play in the late stages meant Dinamo could celebrate a decisive game five victory against Lokomotiv Krasnodar on Thursday. The blue-and-whites reaching the last four of the Superleague, but this quarter-final series wasn't only about on-court action.

The recording, which is full of profanity, may change the entire outlook of Russian basketball. It is clear it was made after the opening game between the two teams.

The Russian Basketball Federation representative at the match, Maksim Astanin is seemingly blaming the refereeing team for not helping Lokomotiv win.

Essentially, what is implied is that the game was fixed in favor of Lokomotiv, but it did not work out like that.

The federation was quick to react, firing all the officials and creating a special commission to investigate the case.

The matter has shaken the whole foundation of Russian basketball.

“I take some responsibility for this scandal. As head of the Superleague, I've lost control of the situation. It's difficult for me to be in charge of both the Superleague and the country's basketball federation. I think next season we'll try to reorganize the Superleague, it will be a separate tournament, and I won't be a head of it for sure,” Russian Basketball Federation president and former head of the Superleague, Sergey Chernov says.

Chernov has drawn criticism during his seven-year reign as head of the federation.

Corruption is the main accusation leveled at him. But when it came down to taking action, only a few clubs appeared ready to challenge the out-of-favor president.

“For five years we've tried to change the Superleague structure. But we've been supported only by three orfour4 clubs. Obviously, things need to be transformed in Russian basketball. For example, the referees are under huge pressure. They know if they don't follow the federation's orders, their careers would be ruined,” Gennady Drozdov says Dinamo Moscow President.

A number of questions still need to be raised concerning the recording to get to the bottom of it.

But with the federation not even questioning the tape's validity it appears one thing is for sure – it is not fake.

The revolution in Russian basketball has not yet occurred, however, the scandal has given the sport's chiefs no choice but to take a huge step forward.

The problem is now though whether the fans will vote with their feet before the changes come into being.