By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Seven European parliament members, Santiago Fisas Ayxelà (PPE) , Bogdan Brunon Wenta (PPE) , Tiziana Beghin (EFDD) , Marc Tarabella (S&D) , Theodoros Zagorakis (PPE) , Virginie Rozière (S&D) and Julie Girling (PPE), are asking from the Commission to open an investigation for the FIBA-EuroLeague dispute.
According to their parliamentary question: “On 9 November 2017, in answer to our previous question on the Euroleague basketball schedule, the Commission said that it shared our views on the importance of national teams and urged the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) to find a solution for the good of the athletes and the entire sport.
Eight months later a solution has not been found and the problem will be aggravated in the following months. The number of Euroleague players available for the national teams is lower than 30% and the better players are kept by the clubs. For the next season, ECA has once again fixed a calendar that is incompatible with national team competitions.
Would the Commission take the necessary measures to prevent competition law violations in order to ensure a proportionate solution to the benefit of all stakeholders?
Would the Commission open an investigation in this matter, particularly in the light of its decision of December 2017?
Since it appears that all past intermediation attempts between FIBA and ECA have failed, would the Commission agree that it is now urgent to open an investigation in this matter?”
Meanwhile, a new private league is created, this time, in swimming. As “Inside the Games” reported, “the first edition of a new swimming event seeking to become the sport’s version of football’s Champions League is due to take place later this year”
The new event is called ISL (International Swimming League” and also the International Swimming Federation (FINA), sent an open letter to all 209 member countries on June 5 warning them against cooperating with the “so-called” international competition. They warned that the event is not part of the international calendar and that results and records achieved there “are not and will not be recognised”.