FIBA–EuroLeague dispute
The FIBA–EuroLeague Basketball controversy is a historical dispute between
competitions.Background
ULEB was founded in 1991 from the Italian, Spanish and French leagues in an attempt to promote theirs clubs financial interests within the
. In 1996 the Greek league joined ULEB.The Champions Cup was originally established by FIBA Europe, and it operated under its umbrella from 1958 until summer 2000, concluding with the 1999–00 season. In the 1990s the name changed to European League as runners-up were also included in the competition and the teams competed in groups rather than knock-out games. In 1996 it was renamed to FIBA EuroLeague.
2000-01 split
In May 2000, ULEB under its president
FIBA's biggest mistake was that it had never trademarked the "EuroLeague" name, even though it had used it since the mid-nineties. The leading European clubs therefore used the EuroLeague name for their new competition which started in 2000. FIBA responded by launching their new
Most of the leading clubs joined EuroLeague, although Panathinaikos, Maccabi Tel Aviv and CSKA Moscow stayed with FIBA who threatened to ban EuroLeague teams from their domestic leagues. Federations from Turkey, France and Russia did not allow their teams to apply for the new competition, but only for the FIBA sanctioned SuproLeague.
The 2000 split had as a result the cancellation of the very successful
In February 2001, delegation from the both sides met with an aim to unify the competitions as it was clear that European basketball could not financially handle two top tournaments. Eduardo Portella and
In 2001 FIBA agreed to give up the running of Europe's top competition and the
After a new argument with ULEB in October 2001, FIBA attempted to launched its own top competition, the
In May 2003 following ULEB's financial problems, FIBA decided to create a new competition with 30 teams, similar to SuproLeague. At the time EuroLeague seemed to owe money to its clubs and the new FIBA project was presented appealing as the teams would be free to negotiate their broadcasting rights. While top teams like Panathinaikos and
In November 2004, FIBA and EuroLeague officially came to an agreement, to take effect as of the 2005–06 season. FIBA agreed to sanction the two top tournaments, but these would be run by ULEB, whilst FIBA would directly run the other European club tournaments, the FIBA EuroCup and the FIBA EuroChallenge.[7] An official contract was signed by both sides, regulating the organization of club competitions in Europe and ULEB's obligation was to pay annually a fee of €400,000 to FIBA Europe.
2009: ECA takes over
ECA[8] was founded in 2006 and it gradually started limiting ULEB's role in the running of its two competitions. In 2008, when Eduardo Portela stepped down, ULEB became more cooperative with FIBA.[9] As soon as EuroLeague competition was transferred from ULEB to ECA in 2009, ULEB remained a minority shareholder via EuroLeague Basketball, but lost control over the competition.
Since 2010, ECA has undertaken ULEB's obligation to pay the annual fee of €400,000 to FIBA Europe. However, ECA purported to terminate the agreement in December 2012, invoking the announced change to the FIBA calendar as of 2017.[10]
2015-17 controversy
In June 2015, FIBA announced it would start a new league to compete with EuroLeague Basketball.[11] They also tried to take the helm by convincing eight of the eleven teams with a EuroLeague A-licence to play in a new FIBA competition, Basketball Champions League.[12] This proposal was unanimously rejected by the clubs.[13][14][15] The other 8 spots would have remained open for clubs via the domestic leagues, with two qualifying rounds.
In November 2015, EuroLeague Basketball agreed to a 10-year marketing
After its initial proposal was rejected, FIBA changed the format of the Basketball Champions League, with qualification based on performance.[17] This competition was officially launched on 22 March 2016.[18]
Threats of suspension
Despite the offer of FIBA to all European national basketball federations, many clubs instead agreed with EuroLeague to participate in the 2016–17 EuroLeague, or 2016–17 EuroCup. Regional leagues like the Adriatic League and VTB United League, as well as many national domestic leagues, signed contracts with EuroLeague Basketball for the right to participate in its competitions.[19]
Because of this, FIBA threatened to suspend 14 European basketball federations from EuroBasket 2017. Notified national organisations were given until 20 April 2016 to explain their stance.[20][21][22]
National basketball federation | Men's national team |
---|---|
Basketball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Croatian Basketball Federation | Croatia |
Hellenic Basketball Federation | Greece |
Israel Basketball Association
|
Israel |
Italian Basketball Federation | Italy |
Lithuanian Basketball Federation | Lithuania |
Spanish Basketball Federation | Spain |
Basketball Federation of Montenegro | Montenegro |
Basketball Federation of North Macedonia | North Macedonia |
Polish Basketball Association
|
Poland |
Russian Basketball Federation | Russia |
Basketball Federation of Serbia | Serbia |
Basketball Federation of Slovenia | Slovenia |
Turkish Basketball Federation | Turkey |
On 16 April, FIBA asked Germany to take over the hosting of the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament from Italy, which was at risk of suspension.[23] In the end, no suspensions were applied.
Reactions
Greece
Georgios Nikolaou, director of communications of
Lithuania
On 20 April 2016, the
Šarūnas Jasikevičius, head coach of Lithuanian team BC Žalgiris, argued that "playing in a FIBA tournament means taking a 20-year step back".[27]
Russia
Andrei Kirilenko, president of the Russian Basketball Federation, requested the VTB United League to suspend the participation of all Russian teams in ULEB competitions. He also said the contract with VTB would be voided if the league refuses.[25]
Spain
Francisco Roca, president of the Spanish ACB, said "the ban is unfair and unfounded", there is not any ban for Spanish teams from playing in FIBA competitions, despite agreeing to the contract with EuroLeague Basketball.[28]
The Spanish Basketball Federation requested that the ACB suspend its agreement with the EuroLeague. The ACB answered stating that it cannot impede clubs from joining their tournaments, and that the possible suspension of the
On 13 May, the Supreme Council for Sports of Spain unilaterally cancelled the agreement between the ACB and EuroLeague, with the aim to avoid the suspension to the men's national team.[30] The Clubs Association (ACB) regretted the action of the council, arguing that it restricts the clubs' freedom to choose the competition they want to play in. Also, it reminded that FIBA did not explain the reasons for the possible suspension.[31]
Slovenia
The
Suspension of ABA League
On 13 April, ABA League, comprising teams from the former SFR Yugoslavia, agreed with EuroLeague on a four-year contract, for one EuroLeague and three EuroCup spots.[33]
Because of this agreement, FIBA threatened to suspend the six national federations, and on 30 April it suspended ABA League.[34] This official recognition was in place since 2009.[35] Krešimir Novosel, director of ABA League, said that he was unsure about reasons for suspension, after the ABA had reformed its league to follow the criteria of FIBA.[36]
Collaboration proposals
On 3 May, EuroLeague presented a collaboration proposal to FIBA, with integration into EuroLeague governance, and the possibility of accepting the new playing windows schedule for the
Two days later, FIBA sent a letter to EuroLeague, requesting that they agree that FIBA's newly formed Champions League becomes the new European-wide second-tier competition instead of EuroCup, agree to the new FIBA national team calendar, and on the future expansion of the EuroLeague to 24 teams.[38]
Threats of suspension of teams
Israel
On 28 June, the
Italy
In July 2016 it was announced that
Russia
On 27 June, just after participants of the 2016–17 EuroLeague and EuroCup Basketball were revealed, Andrei Kirilenko, president of the Russian Basketball Federation, announced that the four Russian participants in EuroCup (Khimki, Lokomotiv Kuban, Nizhny Novgorod, and Zenit Saint Petersburg) would be disqualified from national domestic competitions, and that their players would be banned from playing with the Russian national team.[43]
Spain
On 2 August,
Greece
The Hellenic Basketball Federation initially threatened to ban AEK Athens from the Greek Basket League, if it did not switch from the EuroCup to FIBA's Basketball Champions League. After AEK initially refused to switch to the Champions League, the Hellenic Basketball Federation then refused to grant Greek League player licenses for all of AEK's new signings.[44] if they remained in the EuroCup.[45] As a result of this, AEK had no other choice but switch to the Champions League.[46]
Expansion of the Basketball Champions League
On 19 August, FIBA announced the expansion of its Basketball Champions League to 40 teams in the regular season, after allowing AEK Athens,
As consequence of this, the EuroCup reduced its competition to 20 teams.[48]
Return to threats of suspension
In November 2016, FIBA sent new letters to the national federations of
Promotion from Basketball Champions League to EuroLeague
In November, FIBA returned to talk with EuroLeague Basketball, wishing a EuroLeague spot to the Champions League winner,[52] but EuroLeague Basketball CEO replied this would mean jump from European third to first division in an attempt to finish with EuroCup.[53][54]
Return of Italian, French and Turkish clubs to EuroCup
In January 2017, the Italian clubs wanted to return to EuroCup.[55][56] In February, the French clubs also wanted to return, despite French basketball federation is one of the most faithful supporters of Basketball Champions League.[57] In March, Italian federation said it will give freedom to join any European competition from 2017–18 based on sports merit.[58] Days later, Turkish Basketball Federation made the same statement,[59] and French club ASVEL Basket, chaired by NBA player Tony Parker, confirmed it will join EuroCup.[60]
Luxembourg court decision
On 26 June 2017, the
National teams windows
For the 2019 World Cup, FIBA established a new qualification system, using six weekends during the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons, when the qualifiers will interrupt the club competitions.
In May 2017, the National Basketball Association made a statement that the NBA teams will not loan their players to the national teams.[62] Days later, Euroleague Basketball's CEO Jordi Bertomeu made the same statement.[63]
2020: ULEB with FIBA against EuroLeague
In October 2020, ULEB representing 11 major basketball leagues in Europe, and a minority shareholder in EuroLeague Basketball, asked
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