On May 18, the official website of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) published the news, which is still painful to believe. Russian national teams suspended from all tournaments in 2022. This applies not only to 5×5, but also to 3×3. And regardless of age.

What tournaments are held without the participation of the Russian team?

• Women’s World Cup
• Men’s World Cup (2023)
• Junior World Championship (U17)
• World Cup 3×3
• U23 Nations League Basketball 3×3
• European Cup 3×3
• European Cup U17 3×3
• World Cup U18 3×3
• All club competitions 3×3

The International Federation also uses (read – ordered) its European property FIBA-Europe to remove all Russian teams and clubs. This means that in the subsequent periods of our trip without the women’s Euroleague and the European Cup, men without the Champions League.

Another important issue is the men’s Euroleague. Purely legally, this is a commercial tournament that is not subordinate to the basketball federation. Moreover, the two organizations have a long-standing serious conflict. But in the same issue they are going, it seems, they will take radical measures there. And this despite the fact that CSKA is one of the founders.

The men’s team of the rating of Russia passed through the qualifying tournament of the World Cup – 2023

Photo: RFB

“You can and should think about what awaits CSKA in the future, but talk about this danger. Of course, the health uncertainty factor is pressing, but we keep our back straight. Ready to respond to any event. One thing I can say with certainty is that the goal will be an important decision. The correct formulation of the problem in the current conditions is the main indicator of qualification. No one will have the former abundance of money, because it is archivally determined with the right goals.

Our basketball is going through for itself. This applies to absolutely everyone: federations, leagues, clubs, players, coaches, managers and all other available reorientations to work, calendars and plans, budgets and squads, adjust ambitions. But if it killed somewhere, then it arrived somewhere. I’m talking about the additional responsibility that has fallen on the shoulders of those who now work “for themselves and for that guy,” said CSKA President Andrei Vatutin.

The Russian Basketball Federation, led by Andrey Kirilenko, responded immediately. On the contrary, the President of the RSE proposed to find pluses in the current situation.

“We were ready for this decision and expected that the public teams were not going to take part in the world’s biggest competitions this year. In the event that the degree of sharpness decreases by the end of the year, our goal will be to quickly return to the site. In this situation, we are gearing up for serious work with the reserved national teams and the best candidates for the main teams of the country.

This year they are constantly participating in major events. At the moment, a serious task is the organization and search for unofficial tournaments for competition with serious opponents.

Over the past years, we have established an excellent dialogue with FIBA. The current situation in all sports requires constant infection. The International Basketball Federation has always been ready to meet us halfway – in particular, largely due to its frequency of the Russian women’s team. Now there is a huge pressure not only in Russia, but also in many groups of organizations. It is important that no one gives up hysteria regarding basketball representatives. Basketball, like all sports in general, should be out of politics,” Kirilenko said.

Honored coach of Russia Sergey Elevich believes that even with the opportunity to go to competitions, it would be unsafe for the team.

“We knew about it, discussed this issue and even made decisions that made it possible for the youth groups not to meet. These are children, and I will tell you as a parent, grandfather, that I would never let my granddaughter go on a holiday with such a visit to the world.

I don’t think we will be returning to the international arena soon. Remember Serbia, which did not participate anywhere for four years. I think the suspension data will go to our use. First, we now see that are covered by coaching issues. Secondly, it is a question of players. Players were not selected due to delayed foreign player vacancies. These are big questions that need to be addressed. I don’t think sponsors leave, someone stays, those people who love basketball return. Everything that is done is for the best. We will only benefit from the elect,” said Yelevich.

A very important point, which is emphasized by our basketball federation, is that Russia is not completely disqualified (as in many other sports), although it prohibits athletes from competing until the end of the year. This gives even a small, but a chance for change. The RBF website paid special attention to interaction with FIBA: “The leadership of the Russian Basketball Federation is in constant contact with the International Basketball Federation.”

“They did not come to a decision so quickly because they found some way out. Why First of all, a challenge with logistics and security. Basketball Russia has a lot of flights, as well as FIBA. The men’s team of the tournament at the Zoran Lukic tournament, made up of players from the VTB United League, successfully completed the selection for the World Cup – 2023. Now, unfortunately, we will not be able to continue the qualifying selection. Let me remind you that we have applied to host the European Championship 2025. All this is an unsportsmanlike story,” said Sergey Kushchenko, President of the VTB United League.

For at least a year, Russian basketball is left alone with itself. The chances of CSKA participating in the Euroleague (despite the special status in this tournament) are frankly few. It is hard to imagine that European clubs will take and vote for the competition with the red and blue, which they will indeed soon so successfully save without a playoff along with UNICS and Zenit.