Arapovic: Cibona sold EuroLeague spot to Zvezda for €800,000 in 2014 / News - Basketnews.com

Former player Franjo Arapovic said that Cibona sold its place in the EuroLeague to Crvena Zvezda instead of just simply withdrawing from the competition. Crvena Zvezda called the statement a lie and invited Arapovic to provide proof.

Credit: Crvena Zvezda mts/Djordje Kostic Credit Crvena Zvezda mts/Djordje Kostic

Even though Cibona Zagreb won the 2013-14 ABA League, the team didn't play in the EuroLeague the next season. Crvena Zvezda, who placed third in that year's competition, took the club's spot instead.

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Cibona was already plagued by financial difficulties at the time. Weeks before the ABA League win, the club was taken over by the City of Zagreb. At the time, the club withdrew its participation from the EuroLeague citing financial difficulties.

Years after it happened, former player of the club in the 80s Franjo Arapovic, whose son was playing in the organization at the time, decided to reveal what he thinks actually transpired.

"Cibona sold the Euroleague to Zvezda, and we know it was sold. Now the man who took the most is building apartments on Krk, five apartments. I mean, everything is known. Let's open it up," Arapovic said during the ProSport podcast.

"I don't know if you remember that the city assembly voted for an extra budget to give Cibona in order for them to play in the EuroLeague. Seven days later, Zvezda played instead of Cibona," he continued. "Tell me who was the coach of Cibona (Matan Rimac), how long he was a coach, and how long his son (Slaven Rimac) was a coach after that."

Following the news, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade released an official statement, calling the former player's statements a lie.

"Franjo Arapovic stated a gross falsehood that KK Crvena Zvezda paid the managers of Cibona 800 thousand euros in order to play in the Euroleague in 2014," the statement reads. "If he has any material evidence, instead of obviously using KK Crvena Zvezda for some local disputes in Croatian basketball, we invite Franja Arapovic to present it."

Crvena Zvezda got to the Round of Top 16 in the 2014-15 EuroLeague season but were eliminated after getting 4 wins in 14 matches.

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