FIBA will not change naturalization rules / News - Basketnews.com

FIBA has declined to adopt FIFA's nationality eligibility rules for basketball, citing the need to maintain the integrity of national teams and their development in the sport, while continuing to allow one naturalized player per team.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

FIBA is not willing to change its current naturalization rules and switch to the football model.

When asked about the possibility of applying a FIFA-like rule, where a player's eligibility could be influenced by a parent or grandparent's nationality, Andreas Zagklis, the Secretary General of FIBA, clarified the common organization stance in an official press conference.

"No. We will not go in that direction due to the specifics we have in our sport," he underlined. "We have 2-3 big markets that produce players that are connected to a number of other countries, and that would lead to national teams that have very little to nothing to do with the level of basketball and the development of basketball in their country.

"We have the United States," Zagklis used an example. "You were born there, you have a passport, but, of course, you may have another passport due to a father, grandfather, etc.

"As a rule, the Central Board is clear: one naturalized player per team. This is the No. 1 principle that I do not see changing. And No. 2 -- the criteria for someone to get eligibility is clear: you have a passport, you are eligible. If you had a passport after the age of 16, we have to see if you had significant links with the country. And if you didn't, then you fall under the naturalized category. It's a very difficult rule.

"Nobody has proposed something better than that [a rule that would bring fairer results], I have to be honest with you. So, we are sticking to this current rule, and we have a very experienced team that is reviewing the eligibility and the application of this rule. And we have to be very responsible for how we deal with that."

Foreign-born players with a bloodline connection with the country they want to represent must prove their legal nationality through a passport obtained before turning age 16, regardless of any local laws that deem that nationality as having existed before that time.

Players who obtain their passports after turning 16 can still play but need to prove their close links with the country. Otherwise, they will be categorized as "naturalized" players by FIBA rather than as locals.

FIBA permits one naturalized player on the national team roster per game.

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