A series of new steps in the Financial Stability and Fair Play Regulations (FSFPR) has been introduced by Euroleague Basketball to protect the long-term viability and sustainability of the clubs and the competition in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup.

Fair Play steps added to improve competitive balance

A series of new steps in the Financial Stability and Fair Play Regulations (FSFPR) has been introduced by Euroleague Basketball to protect the long-term viability and sustainability of the clubs and the competition in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup.

Among the new FSFPR provisions passed by ECA Shareholders when they met in July in Munich are increased transparency mechanisms, improved club budget valuation criteria, and progressive reductions in the maximum shareholder contribution allowed to a club's total budget, from the current 65% to 40% in the 2022-23 season.

Additionally, a new sanctions structure has been established for when a club exceeds the maximum shareholder contribution allowed. The amount of the penalty will range between 10 and 180 per cent of the overspend, depending on the severity of the violation. The penalties will be distributed among the other participating clubs, helping to improve the competitive balance of the competition.

The FSFPR complement other approved league-wide initiatives, such as EuroLeague BOCS, that are focused upon maximizing club revenues through knowledge sharing and consultancy services.

Finally, it also was agreed that each club's commercial partnerships will be evaluated by external consultants in order to prevent inflated valuations of deals.

Euroleague Basketball and the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials (UEBO) have reached a history-making framework agreement, the first of its kind in European team sports between an organization and its referees.

Euroleague Basketball, referees reach four-year agreement

Euroleague Basketball and the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials (UEBO) have reached a history-making framework agreement, the first of its kind in European team sports between an organization and its referees.

The framework agreement covers the next four seasons, during which time the referees collective will provide independent services to the clubs to officiate all Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games.

Among other things, the agreement covers game fees for the referees and guarantees all referees a minimum annual amount from their game fees. It also provides an insurance policy for the referees and support for them when they stop officiating in international club competitions governed by Euroleague Basketball.

The referees are bound by the agreement to comply with the Euroleague Basketball Officials Regulations, In-Arena Code of Conduct and disciplinary code.

As has always been the case until now, the referees will be available to officiate in other basketball competitions.

"This first-of-its-kind agreement with our referees is another step toward guaranteeing fans that the quality of games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup will remain strong going forward," Eduard J. Scott, Euroleague Basketball’s Chief Operations Officer said. Referees, together with players and coaches, play a vital role in the growth of club basketball at the highest level in Europe. All our stakeholders can be assured that a strong level of professionalism will continue to characterize the officiating in the EuroLeague and EuroCup competitions."

The agreement was signed on Wednesday by UEBO president Sasa Pukl at Euroleague Basketball headquarters in Barcelona.

"The signing of this agreement today is surely a historical moment for referees," Pukl said. "Such an agreement is a first in European and international basketball competitions. It is a historical moment, first of all, for all 71 Euroleague Basketball referees who will benefit from this agreement, but also for future generations of EB referees. All 71 of us are looking forward to an even closer cooperation with players, coaches and everybody else in our competitions."

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Ensuring a fun, welcoming and safe atmosphere for all people attending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games will be the focus of several new measures that have been put in place by Euroleague Basketball for the coming season, including the introduction of the new Euroleague Basketball In-Arena Code of Conduct.

In-arena code of conduct introduced for 2019-20 season

Ensuring a fun, welcoming and safe atmosphere for all people attending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games will be the focus of several new measures that have been put in place by Euroleague Basketball for the coming season, including the introduction of the new Euroleague Basketball In-Arena Code of Conduct.

The EB In-Arena Code of Conduct and the other league-wide collective initiatives, regulations and standards that will be deployed in the coming months are aimed at standardizing the fan experience across all arenas at top-quality levels and making it second-to-none in the world of sports.

The code of conduct was approved by all EuroLeague and EuroCup clubs over the summer. The key principles in the code of conduct are to show respect to all fans, players, coaches and staff, referees and arena personnel; to refrain from abusive, disruptive and/or foul language and behavior; to never disrupt or interfere with the normal operations of the arena or the game being played; and to comply with requests from arena or club personnel regarding arena policies and emergency procedures.

Anyone who witnesses a failure to adhere to the code of conduct is encouraged to report such violations to security personnel and/or through any other channel made available by the home club. Euroleague Basketball is also in the process of establishing a reporting mechanism. To preserve an enjoyable and safe environment for all, Euroleague Basketball, clubs and local authorities reserve the right to expel any person who violates the In-Arena Code of Conduct, as well as to deny entry to any arena.

Security personnel from Euroleague Basketball are in the process of visiting cities with EuroLeague and/or EuroCup teams to meet with the local clubs, authorities and security bodies in each. Over the past week, Euroleague Basketball staff have held preparation meetings in the cities of Athens, Istanbul and Belgrade to meet with the EuroLeague and EuroCup clubs, arena management, private security companies, public authorities and police. The code of conduct was discussed in the meetings, as were the measures needed to prevent the recurrence of security incidents, hence ensuring the best possible atmosphere during games for all people attending to enjoy.

Euroleague Basketball will monitor the implementation of the in-arena code of conduct across all games in both competitions.

"We want to provide an unforgettable experience for everyone who attends a EuroLeague or EuroCup game, regardless of the result on the night," said Eduard Scott, Chief Operating Officer at Euroleague Basketball. "To do that, we value the support of all relevant stakeholders to create a great environment for our games."

You can find a link to the Euroleague Basketball In-Arena Code of Conduct below. Euroleague Basketball thanks all fans, players, coaches and staff, referees and arena personnel in advance for cooperating and adhering to it!

Euroleague Basketball is celebrating the 2019 European Week of Sport by calling on all basketball fans to #BeActive by practicing physical activity that leads to personal and community wellbeing.

Euroleague Basketball celebrates fifth annual European Week of Sport!

Euroleague Basketball is celebrating the 2019 European Week of Sport by calling on all basketball fans to #BeActive by practicing physical activity that leads to personal and community wellbeing.

The annual campaign, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary, runs from Monday, September 23 through Sunday, September 30. In the previous four editions, more than 40 million people in 42 countries have participated in more than 100,000 events as part of what is the largest public-funded sports initiative in the world.

The European Week of Sport is for everyone – regardless of age, ability, background or fitness level – but especially for the 46% of Europeans who say they never exercise or play sports.

Euroleague Basketball began sending the message that being active promotes healthy living at the ninth One Team Annual Workshop in Barcelona, Spain earlier this month. The 42 participating clubs in this season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup will be echoing that message this week through their own communications platforms. Euroleague Basketball also promotes physical activity to its staff by providing wellness sessions on a weekly basis.

Additionally, EuroLeague Academy, the grassroots brand of Euroleague Basketball that focuses on the development of youth tournaments across the continent, will support the European School Sport Day on Friday. EuroLeague Academy saw 44 school teams and more than 650 students participate in its tournaments during the 2018-19 season in Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Athens and Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

"Euroleague Basketball has supported the European Week of Sport since its inception because we share the same values, namely the encouragement of healthier lives and communities through sport," Roser Queralto, Euroleague Basketball Chief Business Development Officer, said. "Physical activity is proven not only to help individuals feel better, but to bring people together, break down barriers and promote inclusivity, as we have seen clearly in our own programs, One Team and EuroLeague Academy."

The smell of the new season was in the air over the weekend in the capital of Lithuania, which hosted the 28th Clinic for Euroleague Basketball Officials. The annual event brought together the 71 referees who will officiate games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup this season with 16 referee coaches and a host of league officials and special guests to prepare for the coming season.  

EB referees use clinic to gear up for season

The smell of the new season was in the air over the weekend in the capital of Lithuania, which hosted the 28th Clinic for Euroleague Basketball Officials. The annual event brought together the 71 referees who will officiate games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the 7DAYS EuroCup this season with 16 referee coaches and a host of league officials and special guests to prepare for the coming season.  

Real Madrid head coach Pablo Laso; Monty McCutchen, the NBA's Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training; and Scott Butler, the Head of Referees in Australia's NBL, all joined Richard Stokes Euroleague Basketball’s Senior Director of Officiating, in sharing insights and guidelines for the new season with the officials.  

The weekend in Vilnius saw the referees undergo independent physical examinations to ensure that every official was in peak form before the first whistles are blown for the 2019-20 campaigns. Topics addressed included fitness and training issues by the medical support staff as well as presentation and court presence led by veteran official Olegs Latisevs. In addition, the points of emphasis discussed with EuroLeague and EuroCup head coaches earlier in the summer were presented to the referees and referees coaches who will support them this season including faking and flopping, behavior, violations, contact situations and mechanics by Richard Stokes. There were also sessions related to matters of instant replay and communication conducted by Euroleague Basketball staff members.

"It was a pleasure to be involved in the referees' preparation for the forthcoming season," McCutchen said. "Their professionalism and commitment to serve the game at the highest level was evident throughout the meeting, as well as their desire to grow. Personally, it was a joy for me to work with this group in Vilnius and I look forward to doing so again."

Iztok Rems, the ABA League's Commissioner for Delegating Referees; Algimantas Pavilonis, the Head of Referees for Lietuvos Krepsinio Lyga; Boris Schmidt, the Head of Referees in the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga; and Tomasz Kudlicki, the Polish Basketball League's Referees and Commissioners Manager, attended the clinic as well.

"We have had a good start to our season with both the people that were able to be with our officials and the guidelines and expectations that were discussed," Stokes said. "It is so important that we are all on the same page with a clear vision of how we need to work each season and our work with the head coaches and now the referees completes the process to begin what I am sure will be both a challenging and exciting season ahead of us."

The Finance Panel has rendered its decision on the proceeding that was opened against Olympiacos Piraeus last May regarding the consideration of overdue payables.

Finance Panel decision on Olympiacos Piraeus proceeding

The Finance Panel has rendered its decision on the proceeding that was opened against Olympiacos Piraeus last May regarding the consideration of overdue payables.

On May 27, the Euroleague Basketball Management Control Commission (MCC) referred to the Finance Panel the opening of an adjudicatory proceeding against Olympiacos Piraeus which resulted in the Financial Panel acknowledging the existence of overdue payables.

The MCC has been monitoring the fulfilment of settlement agreements with the players, and certified that the overdue payables that originated the opening of the proceeding have been settled.

Novasports, the long-time rights holder for Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games in Greece and Cyprus, will remain the home for Europe's premier basketball competitions well into the next decade after signing a three-year contract extension.

Novasports remains Greek home of Euroleague Basketball through 2023

Novasports, the long-time rights holder for Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games in Greece and Cyprus, will remain the home for Europe's premier basketball competitions well into the next decade after signing a three-year contract extension.

Novasports had one more year of broadcasting rights on its previous contract, and so with the new deal will be showing games through the end of the 2022-23 season. Novasports, which is available exclusively through the top provider of bundled home entertainment and communication services in Greece, Nova, has partnered with Euroleague Basketball for nearly two decades.

"Novasports continue to meet the highest standards in broadcasting and to provide basketball fans a spectacular viewing experience," Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO, said. "We are greatly pleased to have had such a long and fruitful relationship with Novasports and we are even more delighted to know that we can count on them as our partner for three more years."

On behalf of Nova, Ms. Katerina Kaskanioti, Pay TV Executive Director, stated: "Having worked closely with Euroleague for many years and having experienced the powerful spirit and the constant innovation of the top European basketball competition, this feels like a very natural partnership. We keep our promise to offer premium content that our customers value. Therefore, not only do we remain the home of Euroleague, but also the home of the most relevant content in terms of sports, top-quality movies, series and entertainment for the Greek audience."

Greek fans are passionate about basketball, and with two EuroLeague teams, Panathinaikos OPAP Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus, Novasports has been the go-to network for all the best basketball from Greece. With Promitheas Patras in the EuroCup this season, Novasports viewers can count on having up to four nights every week with live EuroLeague and EuroCup action during the season.

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to welcome four new referees who have been selected to officiate games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup for the 2019-20 season. Sebastian Clivaz, Denis Hadzic, Artem Lavrukhin and Vasiliki Tsaroucha all have previous experience at the highest levels in their countries of origin and will be valuable additions to the slate of Euroleague Basketball referees.

Euroleague Basketball adds four referees for 2019-20

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to welcome four new referees who have been selected to officiate games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup for the 2019-20 season. Sebastian Clivaz, Denis Hadzic, Artem Lavrukhin and Vasiliki Tsaroucha all have previous experience at the highest levels in their countries of origin and will be valuable additions to the slate of Euroleague Basketball referees.

Clivaz has been an international referee since 2011 and is considered to be among the premier referees in his native Switzerland. He has been a part of the Swiss League playoffs every season since 2007 and has worked eight of the past 10 Swiss Cup finals.

Hadzic, who played for Croatian club Pula 1981 in his youth, became a referee in 2000. He began calling games in the top Croatian League in 2008 and started refereeing in the Adriatic League in 2017.

Tsaroucha had a 22-year playing career, which also saw her represent the Greek national team in the Mediterranean Games. After she embarked on her officiating career, she received her international credentials in 2013. Tsaroucha has worked in the top men's league in Greece since 2014. She has officiated at the last three EuroLeague Women's Final Fours and also worked at the EuroBasket Women in 2017 and 2019.

Lavrukhin is, at age 26, one of the youngest referees to work in Euroleague Basketball competitions. He has experience in the Russian Federation SuperLeague First Division and worked the Russian Federation Cup final four in 2018. He has also officiated games in the VTB United Youth League and the Russian Federation women's Premier League.

These four will form part of the 71 referees in the Euroleague Basketball list who will officiate EuroLeague and EuroCup games in the 2019-20 season.

All twenty-four 7DAYS EuroCup Clubs were represented by executives in Barcelona, Spain to hear about recent developments in the competition and its future plans; as well as to share opinions and discuss key topics for building on the growth it has had over the past season. The recently approved improvement granting the EuroCup Champion as well Runner-Up access to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (add hyperlink form yesterday’s release) as well as the opportunity for those clubs to continue in the EuroLeague competition based on sporting results from this season onwards was warmly welcomed by all attendees.

EuroCup Clubs meeting marks 2019-20 season start

All twenty-four 7DAYS EuroCup Clubs were represented by executives in Barcelona, Spain to hear about recent developments in the competition and its future plans; as well as to share opinions and discuss key topics for building on the growth it has had over the past season. The recently approved improvement granting the EuroCup Champion as well Runner-Up access to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (add hyperlink form yesterday’s release) as well as the opportunity for those clubs to continue in the EuroLeague competition based on sporting results from this season onwards was warmly welcomed by all attendees.

Attendees heard first from Euroleague Basketball a recap on audience numbers of the just finished 2018-19 season, with remarkable growth in attendance in digital, ranging from 5% to over 200% increases in different platforms.

EuroCup Clubs also:

- Heard the annual officiating department report.
- Reviewed progress on media rights distribution agreements, and welcomed the 2018-19 all-time record achieved with 18 platforms and 53 channels airing EuroCup games to 105 countries and territories, together with EuroLeague.tv making all games available across every corner of the world.
- Discussed proposed Bylaws modifications that aim at raising the standards of the competition, mirroring changes proposed in the EuroLeague.
- Reviewed the 2019-20 calendar.
- Reviewed the 2019-20 club economic distribution and its criteria.
- Heard an update on the introduction of Financial Stability & Fair Play Regulations starting in 2021-22.