By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
FIBA Europe Sports Director Kosta Iliev said that newly appointed FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis plans to make moves in order to resolve the dispute of the Federation with EuroLeague Basketball.
“I know that Andreas Zagklis is ready for negotiations with representatives of the Euroleague. He wants to settle this multi-year conflict,” Iliev said in an interview with Izvestia.
“In principle, it is possible. But first, we need to sit down at the negotiating table and agree on a calendar. As long as Euroleague does not recognize the “Windows” for the national teams, they cannot be in the FIBA family. If we agree – then we can consider the issue of representation,” Iliev also mentioned on the matter.
Regarding the “Windows” system and how it’s related to the potential negotiations with EuroLeague, Iliev commented the following: “We make it clear that the system of “Windows for the national teams will remain in any case. The Qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup proved that this calendar works very well. Almost all the matches were sold out, there was an enormous television interest. In general, the popularity of basketball has grown. I emphasize that we can agree with the Euroleague on how to change the dates of the games, but the system should remain the same.”