By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Italian basketball federation (FIP) took a hard stance and decided to renounce the Italian Legabasket, because three of its teams, Sassari, Trento and Reggio Emilia, have signed a contract with Euroleague in order to play in Eurocup, a decision supported by the general assembly of the league.
As it was announced: “The Federal Council, in view of the findings in the FIBA Europe Board meeting on 20 March, and the announcement made by the National Council of CONI today, found that the deliberate decision by the Lega Basket Serie A on March 17 is a violation of the principle of centrality of the FIP and the duty to observe the provisions of the Olympic Committee, FIBA and FIP.
Therefore, the Federal Council has decided to terminate the agreement in place with the Serie A League, revoking the powers delegated and to give a mandate to the Secretary General to act for all matters accordingly. As regards the issue of the participation in international club competitions not organized by FIBA and FIP, except those recognized by FIBA, the Federal Council emphasized the role institutional of FIBA and the duties of its affiliated entities to perform sporting activities giving priority to those governed by the federation. FIP in this sense has been given a mandate to the Secretary General who will initiate a procedure for assessing the position of Legabasket clubs”.
The Italian league reacted with the following press release: “It is not clear in what capacity the Federation decided to end our deal which expires on June 30 2017. If there is a fair reason to terminate the agreement, it is necessary that the Federation explicitly say that it’s the case. It is not enough to draw an alleged breach of the principle of centrality of the FIP and the duty to follow the provisions of CONI (ed.note: Italian Olympic committee), FIBA and FIP. On the resolution of 17th of March this League and the clubs associated with it forcefully reaffirm the principle of the centrality of the FIP and, with equal force, follow and will continue to follow in the most scrupulous manner, the provisions of CONI, the FIBA and FIP. By the resolution of the 17th of March, unanimously adopted by the League, and we repeat, unanimously, the League has joined the project of “FIBA Champions League”, also becoming its shareholder, however, reiterating the principle that the same FIBA and the same FIP endorsed at least for the past 15 years and that is to take part in competitions, or be associated with organizations that are no longer recognized by the International Federation. A principle of freedom which is now challenged by the decision of the Federation. For at least 15 years, Italian clubs and many more across Europe have participated and participate today at competitions not organized by FIBA and those clubs have not been penalized by this participation. It’s clear that there is a legal problem. But this problem, which has not been solved by anyone in all these years, it can’t be solved through disciplinary proceedings, but within a path which will involve all basketball institutions at national and international level. In the framework of rules and principles mentioned above, the League will continue on that path next week, when a special general assembly will be held”.