EC emphasised importance of basketball players being free to decide whether to play or not for NTs
It urges the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) to find a solution for the good of the athletes and the entire sport
European Commission Competitions Commissioner Margarethe Vestager has emphasised the importance of basketball players being free to decide whether or not to play for their National teams, and that her staff are closely monitoring the current impasse between FIBA and Euroleague to ‘ensure that athletes rights are respected.’
Her comments were made in a written response - published yesterday Feb 1 - to a question from five MEPs asking for EC intervention because Euroleague had scheduled games during the qualifying matches for the FIBA World Cup which could prevent players representing their national teams.
"The Commission shares the views of the Honourable Members on the importance of national teams and athletes' right to decide whether or not they want to play with their national team.
The Commission regrets the overlap between certain matches of the basketball World Cup qualifiers and certain matches of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. It urges the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) to find a solution for the good of the athletes and the entire sport.
The Commission is closely monitoring the situation in order to ensure that athletes' rights are respected and is in constant contact with the relevant actors. The Commission cannot provide further insights as there is an open investigation ongoing".
Her comments were made in a written response - published yesterday Feb 1 - to a question from five MEPs asking for EC intervention because Euroleague had scheduled games during the qualifying matches for the FIBA World Cup which could prevent players representing their national teams.
"The Commission shares the views of the Honourable Members on the importance of national teams and athletes' right to decide whether or not they want to play with their national team.
The Commission regrets the overlap between certain matches of the basketball World Cup qualifiers and certain matches of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. It urges the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) to find a solution for the good of the athletes and the entire sport.
The Commission is closely monitoring the situation in order to ensure that athletes' rights are respected and is in constant contact with the relevant actors. The Commission cannot provide further insights as there is an open investigation ongoing".
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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