Basketball’s world governing body, FIBA, has suspended the British Basketball Federation (BBF), immediately barring the Great Britain men’s senior team from all international competitions.
The decision, announced on Wednesday, follows an investigation into “regulatory non-compliance” and deep-seated governance issues.
The crisis stems from the BBF’s controversial award of a 15-year licence to an external consortium, GBBL, to run a new professional men’s competition, promising £15 million in funding.
The existing nine Super League Basketball clubs called the tender process “illegal and unjust,” leading to a High Court legal battle.
Under the suspension, the GB men’s team cannot compete in senior FIBA events, resulting in the cancellation of their World Cup qualifier against Lithuania on November 27.
UK Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock expressed deep concern and pledged to work with FIBA on an interim operational framework to “fix the domestic game.”
The crisis has already led to the resignation of BBF chairman Chris Grant.
FIBA’s taskforce will now engage with stakeholders and the UK government to try and restore regulatory integrity to the sport.
