Basketball: Fiba reached an agreement with SLB regarding domestic competitions in Great Britain

Basketball’s Super League has reached a deal with world basketball body FIBA ​​to oversee the sport’s domestic competitions in Great Britain – lifting the ban on its men’s national team.

Last month, Phoebe suspended the British Basketball Federation (BBF) over management issues and excluded the men’s team from international competition.

In August, a Phoebe task force was set up to investigate “non-compliance” in British basketball.

In April, the BBF awarded a 15-year license to run a new professional men’s competition – the Great Britain Basketball League – GBB League Ltd (GBBL).

The BBF said GBBL, a consortium led by US businessman Marshall Glickman, would provide £15m over the first two years.

However, the existing nine SLB clubs claimed that the tender process run by the governing body was “illegal and unfair” and refused to join the new league.

Fiba said in a statement that it has now entered into a “direct recognition agreement” with the SLB to “ensure the stability and continuity of top men’s basketball in the UK” during the period of the BBF’s suspension.

“This agreement provides a framework for the organization and management of domestic competitions while preserving regulatory integrity,” the statement said.

“Fiba, through the working group, will continue to work closely with the BBF and all relevant stakeholders, including UK Sport and the UK Government, to support the BBF to become a self-sustaining organization and to ensure the long-term stability and growth of men’s basketball in the UK.”

Fiba’s decision means that the ban on the British men’s team from competing on the international stage has been lifted.

SLB interim independent president Sanjay Bhandari said it had been a “challenging period for the sport” but was pleased to have “reached a solution that gives our clubs the confidence they deserve”.

“Phoebe’s recognition is transformative and means our plans to take SLB forward as an ambitious, high-growth sporting organization can progress at a rapid pace,” he said.

“We look forward with excitement as we work closely with FIBA, UK Sport and the UK Government to ensure the sport achieves the success it deserves in all areas.”