The resolution was taken in retaliation for the invasion of the Russian military forces in Ukraine, within the framework of the armed conflict that both countries have been sustaining since last Thursday the 24th.
Let’s review the resolution:
1. Suspend the participation of teams from the Russian Federation in both the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (CSKA Moscow, UNICS Kazan, Zenit St Petersburg) and the 7DAYS EuroCup (Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar).
2. The Euroleague Basketball will continuously monitor the evolution of the situation. In the event that it does not evolve favourably, all regular season matches against Russian teams will be canceled to set up the league standings.
Euroleague Basketball and its clubs reiterate their firm commitment to peace, against any act of violence or war, and will continue to use their voice to promote respect, inclusion and diversity, values that are at the core of the organization and their teams.
CSKA Moscow, semi-finalist during the last edition, had recently hired Canadian base Kevin Pangos (former Cleveland Cavaliers), but suffered the departures in the last hours of Georgian Tornike Shengelia (former Baskonia), Lithuanian Marius Grigonis, Russian-American pivot Joel Bolomboy and Danish point guard Gabriel Lundberg, all due to the outbreak of the war.
The group from the Russian capital had to face this Friday, March 4, Real Madrid, from Santiago forward Gabriel Deck (former San Lorenzo).
For its part, Zenit Saint Petersburg was scheduled to face French side Asvel Villeurbanne tomorrow, a club that was due to move to Kazan and meet Unics next Thursday.
