By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following public backlash, Lithuanian Basketball Federation president Mindaugas Balciunas announced his departure on Friday.
The decision follows a severe safeguarding scandal, culminating in FIBA issuing a five-year suspension against former women’s national team head coach Rimantas Grigas.
Compounding the crisis, LKF faced heavy scrutiny over the disappointing performance of the men’s senior national team in recent tournaments, including the ongoing FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Balciunas released the following statement on Facebook.
“I have to acknowledge that the level of public aggression has reached a point where tolerating it has become difficult both for those around me personally and for the overall situation in Lithuanian basketball, with the consequences becoming increasingly hard to predict.
For that reason, I believe I need to take action to reduce the public tension. On Monday, I will suspend my duties and transfer my powers as head of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation to the senior vice president, as provided for in the organization’s statutes.
I believe this decision will help calm public emotions, allow the issues that have arisen to be resolved peacefully, and enable the basketball community to once again focus on the main goal of Lithuanian basketball, winning on the court.
The financial and organizational plan for the current year will be handed over to the members of the Executive Committee.
I thank all of you for the opportunities I have been given in recent years and for our work together.
I firmly believe in a bright future for Lithuanian basketball.”
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