2015–16 FIBA-Euroleague controversy

The 2015–16 FIBA-Euroleague controversy is the dispute for controlling the premier European club competition between the FIBA and the Euroleague Basketball Company.

Background

The Euroleague was originally established by FIBA and it operated under its umbrella from 1958 until the summer of 2000, concluding with the 1999–00 season. That was when the most richest and popular clubs created the Euroleague Basketball Company.

FIBA had never trademarked the "Euroleague" name, even though it had used that name for the competition since 1996. Euroleague Basketball simply appropriated the name, and since FIBA had no legal recourse to do anything about it, it was forced to find a new name for its championship series. Thus, the following 2000–2001 season started with 2 separate top European professional club basketball competitions: the FIBA SuproLeague (previously known as the FIBA Euroleague) and the brand new Euroleague 2000–01 season.

The rift in European professional club basketball initially showed no signs of letting up. Top clubs were also split between the two leagues: Panathinaikos, Maccabi Tel Aviv, CSKA Moscow and Efes Pilsen stayed with FIBA, while Olympiacos, Kinder Bologna, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Baskonia and Benetton Treviso joined Euroleague Basketball.

In May 2001, Europe had two continental champions, Maccabi of the FIBA SuproLeague and Kinder Bologna of the Euroleague. The leaders of both organizations realized the need to come up with a unified competition. Although only a year old, Euroleague Basketball negotiated from a position of strength and dictated proceedings. FIBA essentially had no choice but to agree to Euroleague Basketball's terms. As a result, European club competition was fully integrated under Euroleague Basketball's umbrella and teams that competed in the FIBA SuproLeague during the 2000–01 season joined it as well.

In essence, the authority in European professional basketball was divided over club-country lines. FIBA stayed in charge of national team competitions (like the FIBA EuroBasket, the FIBA World Cup, and the Summer Olympics), while Euroleague Basketball took over the European professional club competitions. From that point on, FIBA's Korać Cup and Saporta Cup competitions lasted only one more season before folding, which was when Euroleague Basketball launched the ULEB Cup, now known as the Eurocup.

Controversy

In June 2015, FIBA announced it would start a new league to compete with Euroleague Basketball Company's Eurocup.[1] In July 2015, FIBA tried to take the helm of the Euroleague by trying to convince eight of the eleven teams with an A-Licence to play a new competition organized by them instead of the current Euroleague.[2] This proposal was unanimously rejected by the Euroleague clubs.[3]

On 10 November 2015, the Euroleague Basketball Company reached a 10-year sponsorship agreement with IMG.[4] In its press release, the Euroleague announced a new competition format for the 2016–17 season, with only 16 teams including the eleven A-licence clubs (Baskonia, Real Madrid, Barcelona, CSKA Moscow, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Žalgiris, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, Fenerbahçe, Anadolu Efes and Olimpia Milano) playing a 30-game regular season before the playoffs.

After its first proposal was rejected by the Euroleague clubs, FIBA prepared the Basketball Champions League, a new competition with a qualification based in sporting merit.[5] This competition was officially launched on 22 March 2016.[6]

Possible suspension of 14 National teams

Despite the offer of FIBA to all Federations, many clubs agreed with Euroleague to participate in the 2016–17 Euroleague or Eurocup. Regional leagues like Adriatic League or VTB United League and many National leagues signed contracts with the Euroleague Basketball Company for participating in its competitions.[7]

Due to this support, FIBA is threatening to suspended 14 federations from EuroBasket 2017. Notified national organisations are given 5 days period, till 20 April 2016, to explain their stance on developing situation.[8][9][10] These federations are:

On 16 April 2016, due to the multiple possible suspensions, FIBA asked Germany to take over hosting of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament from Italy.[11]

Reactions to the possible suspension

Greece

Giorgios Nikolau, director of communications of AEK Athens, after its defeat against PAOK in the first game of the Greek League quarterfinals, stated that his club "will not be blackmailed by anyone, doesn’t get any kind of messages by anyone".[12] AEK previously agreed a three-year contract with Euroleague to participate in Eurocup Basketball.

Italy

On 22 April 2016, the three Italian teams that have signed a contract with Euroleague (Reggio Emilia, Dinamo Sassari and Aquila Basket Trento) could withdraw from the Eurocup.[13]

Lithuania

On 20 April 2016 the Lithuanian Basketball Federation suspended BC Lietuvos rytas for their agreement with Euroleague. Subsequently, the club from Vilnius would be disqualified from the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[14] Remigijus Milašius, president of the LKL, refused their arguments and told FIBA "promised a lot of money which they do not even have."[15]

Šarūnas Jasikevičius, head coach of Lithuanian team BC Žalgiris argued that "playing in a FIBA tournament means taking a 20-year step back".[16]

Russia

Andrei Kirilenko, president of the Russian Basketball Federation requested VTB United League to suspend the participation of all Russian teams in Eurocup. He also said the contract with VTB would be voided if the league refuses.[14]

Spain

Francisco Roca, president of the Spanish ACB said "the ban is unfair and unfounded" and told there is not any ban for Spanish teams to play in FIBA competitions, despite agreeing the contract with the Euroleague Basketball Company.[17]

The Spanish Basketball Federation answered to the ACB requesting the suspension of the agreement of the league with the Euroleague. The ACB answered again to FEB that it can not impede Spanish clubs to join their tournaments and it has not the fault about the suspension of the national team.[18]

Slovenia

The Slovenian Basketball Federation, despite being suspended its National team, supports FIBA in its "its efforts to take action against ECA’s allegedly anticompetitive and illegal practices" but does not understand the suspension as the Federation has not any right in the Adriatic League.[19]

Suspension of the recognition of the ABA League

On 13 April 2016, The ABA League, composed by teams from the former Yugoslavia, agreed with Euroleague a four-year contract for one Euroleague and three Eurocup spots.[20]

Due to this agreement, FIBA initially threatened to suspend the six National Federations with teams in the ABA League and on 30 April 2016 it suspended the recognition of the ABA League.[21] This official recognisement was in 2009.[22] Krešimir Novosel, director of the ABA League, declared he is unsure about the reasons of FIBA to not recognising the league, after ABA reformed its league to follow the criteria of the International Federation.[23]

Collaboration proposals

On 3 May 2016, Euroleague presented a collaboration proposal to FIBA with the integration of the International Federation into the Euroleague governance and the possibility of accepting the windows for the FIBA World Cup qualifying games as main points.[24]

Two days later, FIBA sent a letter to Euroleague for requesting the organisation of the second-tier competition (the Champions League instead of the Eurocup), an agreement about the calendar for adjusting it to the windows and a future expansion of the Euroleague to 24 points.[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FIBA Europe Board pushes ahead with attractive club competitions model". FIBA Europe. June 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ "FIBA ready to shake up the European club competition". TalkBasket. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Euroleague Commercial Assets and A-Licence clubs issue joint communication to FIBA". Euroleague. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Euroleague Basketball A-Licence Clubs and IMG Agree On 10-Year Joint Venture". Euroleague. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Basketball Champions League Working Groups make significant headway". BasketballCL.com. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "FIBA confirms launch of Basketball Champions League for 2016-17 season". BasketballCL.com. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Euroleague and Eurocup competition structures set for 2016-17". Euroleague Basketball. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "FIBA reportedly suspended 14 national federations from Eurobasket 2017". Sportando. 15 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "FIBA threatens suspension of 14 national federations from Eurobasket 2017". B92. 15 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "FIBA letter to Slovenian basketball federation". Yugobasket. 15 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "FIBA asks to Germany the possibility to organize Olympic Qualifying Tournament". Sportando. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "AEK will not be blackmailed". Eurohoops. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Reggio Emilia, Trento and Sassari to withdraw from Eurocup?". Sportando. 22 July 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Lithuanian Federation to suspend Lietuvos Rytas". Eurohoops. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "BasketNews.lt" (in Lithuanian). 21 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Playing in a FIBA tournament means taking a 20-year step back". Eurohoops. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "Roca: "The ban is unfair and unfounded"". Eurohoops. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "La ACB responde a la carta de la FEB" (in Spanish). Marca. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "Slovenia Basketball Federation replies to FIBA Europe calling suspension unfair, unfounded". Sportando. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "ABA League gets one Euroleague, three Eurocup spots". Tanjug. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "FIBA Europe Executive Committee evaluates National Federations' response and decides further steps". FIBA Europe. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  22. ↑ "Adriatic League officially recognised by FIBA Europe!". TalkBasket. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  23. ↑ "Adriatic League director Kresimir Novosel isn’t sure what FIBA’s problem is?". TalkBasket. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "Euroleague Basketball presents collaboration proposal to FIBA". 3 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  25. ↑ "FIBA still open to dialogue, here's what they asked to Euroleague". Sportando. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.

External links

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