Euroleague Basketball, the governing body of Euroleague and Eurocup competitions, proposed this Wednesday to modify its special regulations due to the pandemic so that teams that do not have eight players eligible for covid-19 positives are not given up for lost the match, which will be rescheduled.
The agency reported that “it proposes a modification of article 6 of the Special Regulation that was approved by the clubs of the Executive Board in September 2020 and that regulates the consequences of teams not having at least eight players suitable to play in a match determined due to the pandemic. ‘
The rule stated that “if one or more players / coaches / supporters of a club’s team test positive for covid-19, the match will proceed as planned, unless the national or local authorities of one or both clubs involved or the place where the match will be played (in the case of a neutral country) require that a large group of players or the entire team go into quarantine. ‘
In addition, it indicated that “if at least eight players on the ‘Authorization List’ are fit to play, the match must go ahead on the scheduled date and place. The club that cannot play the match will be responsible for the failure of the match and the Disciplinary Judge will declare the team losing by the result of 0-20 and, when applicable, of the playoff series.
Despite the fact that 90% of the matches in both competitions will have been played as planned, taking into account the latest events and to protect the clubs and the integrity of the competition, Euroleague Basketball will propose to the Euroleague Executive Council and the Council of the Eurocup “a modification of this article, aligning the consequences of such a situation with those of matches that cannot be played due to travel restrictions imposed by local or national authorities.”
As a result of the rule change, “teams that cannot have at least eight players to play a match due to covid-19 positives would see the match or corresponding matches suspended and rescheduled for a later date.”
Existing rules (maximum of three reschedules for a given match, deadlines for rescheduling matches, etc.) will reflect the rules applied to travel restriction situations.
If this proposal is approved, the amendment will “apply retroactively” to matches that have not been played to date for this reason, and will empower the Euroleague Basketball CEO to reschedule the six matches that have not been played for a future date. Therefore, the suspended games of Zenit de Saint Petersburg against Baskonia and Valencia at the Buesa Arena and Fonteta, respectively, will have to be played, as well as those of Asvel Villerbaunne that were canceled.
In addition, Euroleague Basketball will review the current protocols of the affected teams, including those of the national leagues, local authorities, internal team protocols, etc. “Best practices from other Euroleague and Eurocup teams will be shared to help all teams maximize their health and safety,” he adds.
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