By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In his interview with “Novosti” the EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu addressed the question of Crvena Zvezda not qualifying for the EuroLeague next year and if there is any chance to change that: “As you know, the sixteen licenses are divided one way or another. The only chance for Crvena Zvezda is that any of sixteen clubs leave their spot which is currently unlikely.”, he explained.
What Bertomeu implies is that despite all the talks about Panathinaikos leaving the league, it seems quite unlikely at this point for something like this to happen. The 16 spots for the next season are already shared between the 11 teams that have a ten-year contract and those which will qualify from the EuroCup and their domestic leagues.
The EuroLeague CEO confirmed that ABA League Buducnost is working towards meeting the EuroLeague criteria and competing in the league next season. He also confirmed that Moscow is not the only candidate for the 2019 Final Four and he expects that Belgrade “will be one of the best ever, if not the best Final Four. On the court, there are four amazing teams that will offer the best basketball you can see in Europe, probably on the planet. Outside of the court, Belgrade, I am sure, will be the perfect host”.