Liga Uruguaya de Básquetbol postponed over referee fitness tests

The 2026–27 season of the Liga Uruguaya de Básquetbol will not tip off on Monday, October 12, as originally scheduled, after club representatives voted during an Extraordinary General Assembly at the Federación Uruguaya de Basketball to delay the opening round by one week to Monday, October 19, Montevideo Portal reported.

Clubs Block Opening Over Referee Fitness Tests

The one-week postponement stems directly from an ongoing dispute between the league’s clubs and the Unión de Jueces Oficiales de Basketball. During meetings held at the federation headquarters, the institutions resolved not to permit competition until officials fulfill mandatory physical evaluations.

According to documents cited by El Observador, the Council of the Liga Uruguaya de Básquetbol backed the federation executive committee by a unanimous vote. The participating clubs—Aguada, Atenas, Biguá, Defensor Sporting, Goes, Hebraica Macabi, Larrañaga, Malvín, Nacional, Peñarol, Unión Atlética, and Urunday Universitario—agreed to withhold competition until the officiating corps passes the required fitness screening.

Negotiations Collapse at the Ministry of Labor

The impasse follows a breakdown in talks that began after referees missed scheduled examinations on October 2 and October 3.

While the federation accepted proposals from the referees’ union regarding training accommodations and insurance coverage through the Banco de Seguros del Estado following a medical incident in September 2025, disagreements over statutory notice periods for the physical tests blocked a total agreement. The union sought a 21-day notice period as outlined in its statutes, whereas league regulations mandate testing prior to the start of the LUB.

Wider Impact on Lower Divisions and Youth Categories

Officials indicated that referees who complete the evaluations during the upcoming weekend sessions will become immediately eligible for lower-division and formative matches, provided the respective governing bodies schedule them. Meanwhile, the top-tier clubs await confirmation that a sufficient number of certified officials will be available to clear the revised October 19 opening date.

Resolution Details and Terms

The resolution of the clubs was known after a weekend marked by public confrontation between the Federation and UJOBB. The first point of the resolution establishes respaldar por unanimidad todo lo actuado por el Comité Ejecutivo de la Federación Uruguaya de Basketball (FUBB) en relación con el diferendo con la gremial arbitral.

Furthermore, the second point of the document explicitly states: Disponer NO INICIAR LA ACTIVIDAD OFICIAL de la Liga Uruguaya de Básquetbol hasta tanto el colectivo arbitral dé cumplimiento efectivo a la realización y aprobación de la prueba física reglamentaria habilitante.