By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The turbulence surrounding AS Monaco dominated headlines throughout the 2025-26 campaign. A situation that has required unprecedented penalties reaching a danger of exclusion from the Playoffs 2026 of the Betclic Elite from the National Directorate for Management Counseling and Control, DNCCG, the financial watchdog for professional basketball in France.
La Roca Team was responsible for a huge operating deficit. This financial instability manifested in serious salary delays for players and staff, nearly triggering a collective strike. The club had already faced multiple sanctions, including continental and domestic transfer bans, and a deduction of one win from the domestic tally, primarily regarding financial transparency and contractual regulations.
Despite these hurdles, Patrick Hianasy, president of the DNCCG, offered a more optimistic outlook on the club’s trajectory. “Relations with AS Monaco have normalized. The club will have to provide solid guarantees by May 15th, but I don’t think there’s any cause for concern. ASM is currently an attractive club operating in a favorable environment,” he stated.
🗣 La décla de Patrick Hianasy, président de la DNCCG 🗞 pic.twitter.com/3K8hj02BAY
— AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) April 25, 2026
This stabilization is largely attributed to the robust backing of the Principality of Monaco, which stepped in to guarantee the club’s financial viability. By late January, a rescue plan was established to cover the structural deficits and avoid administrative relegation. While the club remains under intense scrutiny, the immediate threat of bankruptcy appears to have been averted.
On the court, the team continues to thrive. After finishing eighth in the EuroLeague Regular Season, Monaco won Friday’s final Play-In Showdown game against FC Barcelona in Salle Gaston Medecin to clinch a playoff berth and set up a best-of-five series against top-seeded Olympiacos for a ticket to the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four Athens, presented by Etihad. Domestically, their 21-5 record currently ranks first in the Regular Season, placing them 1.5 games ahead of second-placed Paris with three games remaining before the Playoffs.