By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Valencia Basket filed a complaint against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet to the EuroLeague because of Nikola Topic’s inclusion on the game sheet of the Belgrade team.
It was sent to the Judge, but he didn’t admit it because the deadline of 48 hours was not fulfilled.
Valencia eventually decided to appel, as per club’s official statement.
“KK FMP announces the incorporation of Topic after 11 pm, after the match between Valencia Basket and Crvena Zvezda. Something that could normally happen. It is not until Monday when the Club discovered that the internal regulations of the Adriatic League prevent these movements beyond January 4, for which reason it immediately presented the allegations to the competition, considering that the transfer had to have been made that day and not after, and should have been deliberately hidden so that the player could be available in case of need in our match. We would also like to remind you that Euroleague regulations require Clubs to notify player transfers or assignments on the same day they occur, something that was not done in this case. The Euroleague’s response in the 48-hour period from the receipt of the minutes leaves the Club in a clear situation of defenselessness since in said document it was not possible to detect the irregularity, and it cannot be claimed that a Spanish Club is aware of the regulations, internal to the Adriatic league, when not even the Euroleague itself was. The Club, considering that in this case it was impossible to meet that deadline, will appeal the decision“, its noted in Valencia’s official statement.
After Crvena Zvezda won at La Fonteta 77-75, it was announced that Topic is moving to FMP Meridian until the end of the season.
On Monday, ABA League declined and canceled Topic’s registration with the FMP because, according to article 13.10 of the Adriatic League Bylaws, any player shall not be allowed to play at the same time for two different clubs, even if they are participating in the different competitions.
Therefore, he can’t play in the ABA league until the end of the 2022-23 season, and he moved to OKK Belgrade to play in the Basketball League of Serbia.
Photo: ABA League/Crvena zvezda/Djordje Kostic