By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The relationship between CSKA and Euroleague Basketball does not extend to the team based in Moscow participating in EuroLeague action, but is limited to a lasting role among the team-shareholders. On-court participation was suspended in February 2022 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
President and chief executive officer Andrey Vatutin revisited the current situation in a recent interview with Russian outlet Match TV.
“I’ve been constantly answering these questions for almost four years now, and I hope they’ll stop being asked,” was his initial response to CSKA possibly returning to Europe’s premier club competition.
“I don’t see any chance of significant changes,” continued 52-year-old Vatutin, “The reasons for which Russian teams are suspended from international competitions remain in place, and I don’t yet see any significant grounds for their elimination.”
“Russia is being meticulously cut out of the European area, and there’s no point in hoping that basketball will be an exception. New rounds of sanctions are being introduced, and the isolation will only escalate,” he further explained his opinion.
Considering other aspects, he also labeled a comeback as impossible.
“The well-known problems with flights, payments, visas, and other complications will prevent us from fully functioning,” he said.
Over recent years, CSKA has focused on the VTB United League. The 2024-25 efforts culminated in winning the league for the 12th time in team history.
Among decisions en route to the 2025-26 installment of the regional league, head coach Andreas Pistiolis extended his contract until 2028.