By Bugra Uzar/ info@eurohoops.net
After holding a press conference regarding the upcoming international basketball tournaments organized in Turkey, FIBA Europe president Turgay Demirel talked to Eurohoops about the ongoing FIBA/Euroleague adversary.
Regarding a possible cooperation with Euroleague, he said that: “For the present, I can say that all the organizations whose draws have been made will take place the next season. For the future, the talks are still ongoing. A solution is more than necessary and is heartily intended.”
And what about the sanctions that might be imposed on certain teams that are participating in next season’s Eurocup? “FIBA Europe and FIBA in general have said to all the federations that they themselves need to construct such a system that the federations should be in control of their own basketball climate. We told them if this does not happen, there will be some problems occurring. They replied as “we will do all the necessary adjustments to control our own basketball system”. This subject is seeing different approaches from different federations. For instance, Italy is applying a different approach and Greece as well. Russia is following a different approach.
“For now, we do not know which teams will be participating in which tournament in the future”, he continued. “Besides, we do not know either what kind of an approach the federations will follow in the future. I guess, the picture will come out as more clear when the games kick off in September and October. Up until this date, federations are still taking steps to set their own systems within their organization. What we are looking to see from them can be addressed at two things: First, of course federations should be able to rule over their own system pyramidically. Second, in order for European basketball to grow up and develop, we need an altruistic approach from everyone, not a hostile one. That’s what we are aiming for.”