By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet is not able to add new players and coaches to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague squad until March.
Euroleague Basketball imposed a sanction extending the ban until the end of February, as announced Wednesday. Therefore, Facundo Campazzo, a recent addition, will not be able to play in the EuroLeague Regular Season for several more weeks.
Per the press release: “Euroleague Basketball’s Finance Panel, an independent regulatory body, has imposed a sanction consisting of a prohibition to register new players and coaches until February 28, 2023, and a fine of €25,000 on Crvena Zvezda for severe violations of the Financial Stability & Fair Play Regulations (FSFPR).
The case was referred to the Finance Panel by the Management Control Commission (MCC), the independent commission that reviews the financial performance of the clubs and their compliance with the relevant regulations, on December 1, 2022. The Finance Panel had opened an adjudicatory proceeding and imposed a provisional ban on Zvezda that prohibited the registration of players and coaches.
The imposed sanctions consider the severity of the infractions, which included having overdue payables with players from current and previous seasons, as well as providing untrue or inaccurate information, allowing the club to take undue competitive advantage and to continue with its normal operations despite an irregular financial situation under the FSFPR.
The Panel has also considered Crvena Zvezda’s recidivism, as the club had previously been sanctioned on two other occasions within recent years. The sanction also warns the club that any further violation of the FSFPR may lead to more severe sanctions, such as victories discounted from the team’s record.
This decision may be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
Campazzo, 31, ineligible to compete at the continental level, has instead been limited to the regional AdmiralBet ABA League, since joining Crvena Zvezda. Averaging 9.5 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per contest paint the statistical picture of early contributions to the Serbia giant.
“This is disappointing to us as we always want the best players on the court. It is frustrating that serious violations of the Financial Stability & Fair Play Regulations by the club are preventing great players from being registered until the end of February. At the league office, we need to ensure that all teams adhere to the same rules, and that is the reason why the independent regulatory bodies have imposed such a sanction,” Euroleague Basketball CEO Marshall Glickman said in a statement.
“We are glad that all overdue payables have been settled, but it is important that Crvena Zvezda has a true commitment towards respecting all regulations moving forward, and I believe they do have it, according to our conversations with the club,” he added explaining the current situation for the team based in Belgrade.
Crvena Zvezda reacts
Following the announcement of Euroleague Basketball, Crvena Zvezda issued a response noting an ‘extremely severe’ punishment and intentions to take legal action.
The team coached by Dusko Ivanovic is currently tied for eighth in the EuroLeague standings, behind an 8-8 record. It will move forward without the Argentine guard up to Round 25 of the Regular Season. Barring possible vindication in the appeal, the former player of the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks in the NBA will finally become available for the last nine games of the Regular Season, in a possible late push for a berth in the Playoffs.
Photo Credit: ABA-Liga.com