By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League previewed more midweek continental affairs involving Turkish teams to be rescheduled.
Due to the deadly earthquakes affecting Turkey, the country’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a national mourning period for seven days Monday afternoon. Over the last few hours, more than 2,300 people from Turkey and Syria have been confirmed dead and more than 11,000 people were injured after the powerful quakes and multiple aftershocks.
Besides lowering Turkey’s flags to half-mast across the country and foreign representative offices, the mourning resulted in postponing scheduled games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup, beyond the Champions League already confirming three games involving Turkish outfits postponed and to be rescheduled.
Per the press release: “The 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season Round 14 game Frutti Extra Bursaspor vs. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, which was scheduled to be played on February 8 and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 24 games Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Exchange Milan, which were scheduled to be played on February 9 and 10, respectively, have been suspended following the Turkish government’s cancellation of all sports competitions until further notice due to the earthquakes that struck the country on Monday.
Euroleague Basketball will evaluate with the affected teams the best possible options to reschedule the games based on available dates. Further information will be released as warranted in the coming days.
The Euroleague Basketball family is deeply saddened by the tragedy in Turkey and neighboring countries. We wish to express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by the ongoing tragedy.”
In the same context, next weekend’s Regular Season Round 19 contests of Turkey’s BSL are expected to be rescheduled as well.
In a devastating situation with basketball far from a priority, the Turkish edition of Eurohoops has been posting info since the first morning hours looking to help those in need.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net