By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
While FIBA continues setting up the stage for the Champions League, the demand for Euroleague spots remains bigger than the available slots.
In the recent meeting of Euroleague with 27 clubs that was obvious once again. According to Russian newspaper “Sport-Express“, Unics Kazan, Lokomotiv Kuban and Khimki Moscow region were also present in the meeting and proposed the immediate expansion of the new Euroleague version from 16 to 20 teams. According to Eurohoops sources, while an expansion is not out of the question, next season’s Euroleague will include only 16 teams. At this point there are five still open spots, one reserved for the Eurocup winner, one to be decided from a qualifying round and three which are expected to be given to teams proposed by three national leagues.
However, with many national federations and the national leagues aligning with FIBA, the possibility of having three wildcards and a Euroleague that will be pushed even more to the direction of a closed league can’t be excluded. After all there’s an open war between Euroleague and FIBA.
In today’s edition of French newspaper “L’ Equipe”, FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann once more repeated that he has “no issue with Euroleague”, but also that “the Champions League is the only viable solution”. As for the teams that chose to join the Euroleague project, Baumann added: “Let them create their own private club”.