Zagklis comments on talks with EuroLeague, ramifications of European Super League case / News - Basketnews.com

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis talked about the discussions with EuroLeague, and how the European Court of Justice's ruling on the European Super League competition can affect basketball.

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Just a couple of weeks ago, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis held a yearly review press conference, where - among many other topics- he talked about FIBA's relationship with EuroLeague.

Zagklis confirmed that he had a meeting with a new EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga, but didn't provide plenty of good news for European basketball fans.

"I can confirm that we had a meeting. I don't think it [the meeting] should be news, but there's no progress," Zagklis said in the press conference.

"In the last 18 months, we feel FIBA tries alone. We included NBA in the discussion and had some brainstorming ideas. The situation in EuroLeague doesn't allow progress. It's not due to the new leadership. There's a majority and a minority inside ECA. I'm not happy about it. I don't expect anything major for the February window," Zagklis continued.

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The Greek executive also said that some important issues don't require much effort, an opinion he repeated in his latest interview with Greek EuroLeague broadcaster NOVASPORTS.

"We mustn't personalize the subject. I have a good relationship with Dejan on a personal level, but we represent basketball in Europe and the world. FIBA brings together 212 national federations, dozens of leagues and thousands of clubs, which have agreed on calendar and organization issues, as well as on the way basketball should be played," the Greek lawyer said.

Zagklis repeated that everything FIBA's side has said and asked "is the minimum that needs to be done", and added that the world federation wants "to keep trying."

"There's nothing wrong with us saying that nothing has come out of that meeting," Zagklis admitted. "There's no development. We want to see the other side show the same zeal that we have shown. But we're not negotiating in public either," he pointed out.

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Last week, the European Super League project was dealt a blow when an EU legal adviser proposed the European Court of Justice should back rules allowing UEFA and FIFA to block the breakaway competition.

Advocate General Thanasis Rantos proposed that the court recognize FIFA-UEFA regulations under which Super League should be subject to prior approval were compatible with European Union competition law. While organizers were entitled to set up an independent competition outside UEFA and FIFA, they can’t also continue to play in events held by UEFA and FIFA without their approval, Rantos said.

Advocates generals' opinions are not binding on the Luxembourg-based court but are followed by judges in most cases.

Asked about the issue, Zagklis said it's too early to say anything.

"I just came back from a trip to the States and I haven't studied the opinion of the advocate general," he argued.

"Of course, we are concerned and we are following the developments," he went on to say.

"FIBA and UEFA are both stationed near the Geneva lake and have been working steadily. Give us some time to look into it. What's happening at the Luxembourg court is directly or indirectly related to what we (FIBA) are doing," he concluded.

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