Why all the Turkish teams migrated from Eurocup to BasketballCL?
The Coronavirus is reshaping the landscape of the European Basketball. One of the most important effects is the migration of many teams from Eurocup to Basketball Champions League. In the last weeks, important clubs that were a constant presence in the Eurocup, playing as well in the Euroleague in the past, have signed contracts for the next years with FIBA. It’s about Bilbao Basket, Rytas Vilnius, Fortitudo Bologna, Tofas, Darussafaka, Galatasaray.
The shift of the Turkish clubs from Eurocup to BasketballCL have some strong arguments. Let’s review a couple of them:
- it’s not only about the money, but the financial issues are very important in the country in the last years especially after the Turkish lira dropped significantly. It is very difficult for the teams to maintain their salaries at the highest level. Anadolu Efes will cut some expenses for the next season, while Fenerbahce these days paid 2 salaries back with months. This is the direct effect of the economic crisis increased once more by the Coronavirus.
- The Turkish teams will receive money from FIBA to join the BasketballCL, which is important now because the clubs want to cover immediately some expenses. Instead of wasting more money on high-priced players to participate in the Eurocup, the basketball organizations from Turkey will save money plus adding some more from FIBA’s contracts.
- FIBA competitions have a rule that is more convenient for Turkish clubs: the presence of at least 5 homegrown players on the team’s list for any game. In Turkey, for 2 years, in the domestic competition, the teams have to play with only 5 foreigners, meanwhile, in Euroleague and Eurocup, their number is not limited by any rule. Last season, for the Turkish teams, was difficult to compete in Eurocup having only 5 foreigners against other squads with 8 foreigners. In BasketballCL, they have better chances to compete because the level is more tied by this regulation of the homegrown players.
Photo: Eurocup
Gratian Cormos
