By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Tonight’s topic in the Lithuanian talk show “LRT Forumas”, which usually covers political topics, the subject of discussion was the debate between FIBA and Euroleague.
During the program which is broadcasted in the national Lithuanian television the public was asked to vote if the federation should have penderred to FIBA’s wishes and 70% of the voters chose “no” for an answer. The vice president of Lietuvos Rytas, Darius Gudelis, was present in the show and also among others the league general manager and former referee Romualdas Brazauskas, the general manager of Zalgiris Paulius Motiejunas and former player, who is now a parliament member, Sergei Jovaisa. Gudelis’ represented the club which is in danger of being banned by the federation, even if the league has a different opinion.
FIBA Executive Director Europe Kamil Novak spoke via phone and insisted that FIBA’s decision is based on sports principles and it was taken after a board meeting which “represents the whole of basketball, not just a minority”. So as he said, about the ban of the national teams: “I do not accept the word “threat”. We have the right to take such decisions”. On the other hand Eduard J. Scott, Chief Operating Officer at Euroleague Basketball, stressed the fact that this situation doesn’t help the sport to grow and expressed the desire that “FIBA will start discussions and find a compromise”.