EuroLeague Basketball to extend season suspension amid the coronavirus crisis
EuroLeague Basketball is expected to extend the season suspension for another month due to the coronavirus pandemic.
After a meeting that took place remotely on Wednesday, March 25, the competition agreed that play will resume once all participants are health and safe.
Per the league’s official announcement:
“Executive Board members agreed that:
-The competitions will resume once the situation allows there to be optimal health and safety conditions for all participants, following the recommendations of the relevant health authorities and local governments.
-Prioritizing the finish of the 2019-20 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season with its existing format, meaning playing the remaining Regular Season, Playoffs and Final Four phases.
This would most probably imply ending beyond the originally scheduled May dates, with game frequency potentially being condensed, if necessary. The same priority will be applied to the 2019-20 7DAYS EuroCup season.
-Continuing to analyze potential alternative competition systems that could be activated only if the situation would so require.
-Common policies and principles to be proposed to the EuroLeague Players Association and the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, which include, amongst others: the potential return of players and head coaches to their home cities, and; players and head coaches’ commitments, including adjusted salary payments during the competitions suspensions.
-Making the 2019-20 Financial Stability & Fair Play Regulations more flexible until there is more certainty on the future evolution of the financial situation.
-The importance for all stakeholders (league, clubs, players, coaches, referees and ambassadors) to acknowledge their responsibility as points of reference and/or as sources of inspiration for many, to contribute in a coordinated manner to help combat COVID-19 in every way possible.
This may be by raising awareness of how everyone can contribute to mitigate the spread of the virus, by staying as close as possible to those communities in need, or by simply providing those confined at home with some entertaining content around their biggest passion, basketball.
The conclusions of the meeting were subsequently shared with all remaining 2019-20 EuroLeague and EuroCup clubs.”
EuroLeague has initially suspended the season until April 11, however it seems likely that the competition will return to action at the end of May.
So far, all teams have shut down their training facilities and have stopped practicing.