Βy Kostas Ioakeimidis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Russian Basketball Federation responded yesterday to FIBA, saying that after meeting the representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee, the Russian ministry of sport, the VTB United league and the Russian clubs of the VTB they established a joint position relative to possible sanctions by FIBA Europe to the Russian national team.
As “Sport-Express” reports the text of the letter send back to FIBA is the following: “The Russian federation, being a member of FIBA, has always respected the rules and decisions, however, the situation that has developed is quite vague and concerns all stakeholders.
In fact, European basketball is the center of conflict between FIBA and the Euroleague and as a result the national federations, clubs and leagues have become hostages of the situation and are ready to accept any solution that would allow national teams to continue to participate in international competitions. Τhe basic criterion for the clubs who decided in favor of the Eurocup is their opportunity to earn through it a place in the Euroleague, which is the leading collective organization in Europe”.
In this letter, Andrey Kirilenko also expressed the belief of the Russian Basketball Federation that European basketball is in need of peace and tranquility, and that these collisions can destroy not only the biggest domestic leagues, but also have a huge impact on the system of basketball competitions. FIBA is also invited to sit again at the negotiating table with the Euroleague and to do that it is possible to put an end to further conflict creating a clear conducting system of European competition.