By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Without any explanation, FIBA announced during the recent FIBA Europe Board in Dublin that the sanctions towards the national teams are lifted.
As it turns out, the decision was made because a German court in Munich has accepted a request that FIBA/FIBA Europe do not impose those kind of sanctions.
The request was mabe by 14 appellants: Fenerbahce,Real Madrid, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olympiacos, Gran Canaria, Olimpija Ljubljana, Lietuvos Rytas, Cedevita, Unicaja Malaga, Zielona Gora, ABA league, ACB league, Euroleague Properties SA, Euroleague Commercial Asset. A second request in this case on the matter of club’s participation in Eurocup is still pending.
It’s obvious that the two sides, FIBA and Euroleague, are still far apart, however the idea of imposing sanctions to the national teams for something clubs from the same country are doing, doesn’t seem to have any legal basis. The real question at this point remains with the Eurocup and the FIBA Champions League ready to “compete” next season for pretty much the same audience, if that can be beneficial for the sport.