Glickman shares exchange with Campazzo, explains why he didn't lift the ban / News - Basketnews.com

EuroLeague CEO Marshall Glickman explained why he didn't lift the ban for Crvena Zvezda to defend all the players' interests collectively.

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In an exclusive interview with BasketNews, EuroLeague CEO Marshall Glickman shared his vision for the league's future and provided insight into his decision-making process regarding the registration of Facundo Campazzo and the ban of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade.

Facundo Campazzo

Team:Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet BelgradePosition:PGAge:31Height:179 cmWeight:75 kgBirth place:Cordoba, ArgentinaProfileNewsStatistics

Due to sanctions imposed by the independent EuroLeague body, the Management Control Commission (MCC), Campazzo won't be able to make his EuroLeague debut with Red Star until March 1st.

Although Glickman had the authority to grant amnesty, he emphasized that his ultimate goal was to make the best decisions for all players involved.

"That's a big step forward that there is a players association," Glickman told BasketNews. "Then the framework agreement came forward. One of the biggest issues for the players, for very good reason, was, 'We need to be paid, and we need to be paid on time.' So that's one of the several topics that are addressed in the framework agreement."

"As you know, the players weren't paid on time. We have an independent body called the Management Control Commission that did deep investigations. I don't want to get into the details of their work, but we're not involved. They're independent. They're truly independent. They're a group of three attorneys who have no baggage and have nothing to do with basketball directly.

So they came to the conclusion that the club was not forthcoming with some information that was necessary. In the meantime, they were able to register players that otherwise they wouldn't have been able to register, which potentially gave them a competitive advantage they otherwise wouldn't have had. You know the word amnesty. The only authority that I have as the CEO is amnesty. And amnesty means that you're making the whole thing go away as though it never happened. That's what it means," Glickman expanded.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade / Schedule

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade Real Madrid59-79 Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade AS Monaco92-68 Zalgiris Kaunas Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet BelgradeFri18:00

"It wasn't a question of, 'Can Campazzo play or not play.' It wasn't anything to do with Campazzo. We have to uphold the integrity of the system, particularly in a situation where we're doing precisely what the Management Control Commission asked us to do. So I didn't feel that it was at all appropriate for the CEO to step in and change something that had been going on for quite some time," Glickman declared.

Glickman stated that he communicated directly with Campazzo but ultimately could not assist him.

Despite a thorough examination of the situation, Glickman ultimately determined that there was no justification for granting amnesty in Campazzo's case.

"He sent me a very nice email. It was very polite and very courteous, and I sent him back a pretty lengthy email explaining the situation," Glickman said.

"I feel very bad for Campazzo, personally. Obviously, all of us would like him on the court. That's not the question. I've had an exchange with him directly. Didn't you talk to Mike James?" Glickman referred to the URBONUS podcast with Mike James and Donatas Motiejunas. "I think he said it all."

"I think we did the right thing. I don't think it would have been appropriate for me to step in just because we all would like this one particular player to play. I think my job is to defend the interests of all the players collectively. And I think if Mr. Campazzo has a complaint, he should be talking to his agents. Because his agents were well aware of the situation," CEO concluded.

"I want him to play first. But if they're not paying people, even if he's getting punished, he's on their team. It could have been anybody. Anybody that would sign there would have the same problem. So it's not just against Facu. I love Facu, that's my guy. If you're not paying the players, some type of fairness and rules has to be installed for some type of punishment if you're not paying people," Mike James examined the MCC decision on the URBONUS podcast.

"Talking about this situation, I have a clear answer. If you're not paying players, this is the situation you get. Even if Campazzo is the victim, any other player could be in this situation. But we're talking about all the league players over one guy. We have to be protected for these situations not to appear," AS Monaco big man Donatas Motiejunas added.

Despite public support from Monaco's stars, the EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA) issued a statement expressing their opinion that this situation harmed the player more than the club and could have been avoided.

Glickman denied the reports that Campazzo signed with Crvena Zvezda, being assured by the EuroLeague that the previously imposed ban would be lifted.

"They weren't assured by the CEO's office. Nobody talked to me," Glickman told BasketNews. "I don't know who would have given them that assurance. The management control commission is an independent body."

"They make recommendations, then it goes to a financial panel, and they implement the sanction almost always based on the recommendation given by the Management Control Commission. So there is no assurance that I'm aware of that was given by anybody," Glickman added.

"I feel really bad for him. I'd like to see him on the court. He pointed out that this is not his fault, and I agree with him it's not his fault. But I do think that the agents were well aware of the situation, and they chose to sign him there," he added.

"You know, there was no mistake or whatever. People suggested there could have been some other sanction and things like that. But the sanctions are given because they need to have an effect. And I don't think I think their view the view of the Management Control Commission is money wouldn't have solved the problem," Glickman assured.

Check out the entire conversation with Marshall Glickman discussing the forthcoming changes in the EuroLeague, including Luka Doncic's thoughts and the absence of Victor Wembanyama:

Audio:

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