By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After Bruno Caboclo officially signed with Partizan Belgrade, Reyer Venezia issued a statement criticizing the Serbian club, FIBA, the player, and his agent for different reasons each.
Venezia accused Partizan of “illicit conduct” in acquiring Caboclo and described the decision of FIBA to give the big man a letter of clearance as “unjust” and “flawed.” The Italian club mentions that they will take any legal action necessary on the matter.
Caboclo signed with Venezia in June after a standout season in EuroCup with Ratiopharm Ulm. Following his World Cup run with Brazil, he refused to show up for his new club citing personal reasons, per Venezia, and joined Israeli Second Division team Maccabi Ra’Anana for a tour against NBA teams.
Per Venezia:
Umana Reyer Venezia takes note of the unjust and flawed decision of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to issue the clearance to the player Bruno Caboclo, at the request of Club Partizan Belgrade.
The issuing of the aforementioned authorization, in the face of a very serious violation committed by the player, manifesting bad faith and with the culpable collaboration of the manager and the new Club is completely unacceptable and will be contested by Reyer in every forum and with every means available lawyer, starting with the appeal to the FIBA Appeals Panel.
Likewise, Reyer reserves the right to have the illicit conduct of the player’s managers and of Partizan Belgrade itself ascertained in the competent bodies, which, despite being aware of the contractual obligation in place with Reyer, has given effect to the transfer request.
It is not tolerable that in a functional and interdependent system like that of European basketball, a club takes advantage of the performance of a player contractually linked to a potential opponent.
And the about-face of players and agents in disregard, not only of contracts but also of sports programming, investments and the competitiveness of the teams is not tolerable.
For this reason, Reyer is absolutely determined to continue her legal battle against all those involved in this matter and in all possible venues.
It is unfortunately clear that respect for the codes of conduct sanctioned by FIBA itself and the basic sporting values that should be shared by all cannot be entrusted to the individual conscience of those who work, in any capacity, in our sport.