By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
As it turns out Lokomotiv Kuban may gain a spot in next season’s Euroleague if they get to win the title and that will mean no place for Galatasaray.
According to article 10 of the Euroleague club licensing rules: “ECA will grant the Euroleague champion a one-year licence for participating in the Euroleague the following season, provided that the Euroleague champion does not hold an A or B Licence.
ECA will grant the Eurocup champion a one-year licence for participating in the Euroleague the following season, provided that the Euroleague champion from the previous season already holds an A or B Licence.
In both cases, the allocation of the licence will be conditional upon the fulfilment of all terms and conditions established in these Licensing Rules for the Clubs with B Licences. In the case that the club does not fulfil these requirements, the Shareholders Executive Board will propose the allocation of a wild card to the General Assembly.
In the case that the Euroleague champion and the Eurocup champion both hold an A or B Licence, the Shareholders Executive Board will propose the allocation of a wild card to the General Assembly“.
This rule, which is in the books for years, will be used if Lokomotiv, the only team which doesn’t have an A licence in the Final Four, gets the Euroleague title. It was never used in the past – and that’s why it was not prominent until now – since only teams with A licences have won the Euroleague title. For Lokomotiv, this is the only option they have in order to compete in next season’s Euroleague after being eliminated in the first round of the VTB League.