EuroLeague learns to live without Russians, Bertomeu in the spotlight

The return of the Russian teams to the Euroleague after the 20-day postponement of their games is practically impossible. Even if extra time is granted, the return of CSKA Moscow, Kazan and Zenit and the conclusion of regular-season games doesn’t match the grim reality of Ukraine’s ongoing war.

After all, with the departure of the foreign players, maybe even the coaches (if Xavi Pascual’s move to Maccabi succeeds), the three Russian clubs have basically given up their participation in the EuroLeague final. Even if we magically assume that the war is over, peace triumphs, and sanctions against Russia end, it seems utterly unlikely to see the three groups as we know them.

Most likely, they will end the season in the VTB league, which will continue (from the weekend) with the players remaining in the teams’ rosters, but also without the participation of Caleb Tallinn and Zielona Gora, who left due to war .

The EuroLeague is completed with 15 teams, without counting the games of the Russian teams. Most teams are already reading the tables with six games down, with the last four being moved permanently to Belgrade a week earlier, with games taking place on Thursday and Saturday.

The question is what will happen next summer and next season if the war in Ukraine and its consequences continue. And if in the cases of Kazan and Zenit, who played in this year’s EuroLeague, I’ll say Eurocup and wildcard respectively, replacement is easy, it’s not so easy at CSKA. The Russian giants are shareholders of the EuroLeague and play a very important role in the development of the tournament, a team that has won the trophy four times since 2000 and has finished in the last four 18 times.

The EuroLeague, of course, cannot deviate from the decisions of the rest of the international sports community, so it is waiting for the other federations to move to deal with the delicate case of CSKA, which if it does not fight next year in the organization of which it is a shareholder , can assert claims.

You don’t know how the situation will develop. That is, whether the sports embargo will continue or the participation of Russian athletes and teams will be allowed under certain conditions. On the other hand, after three or four months, what will be the conditions for professional sport on Russian soil?

What does European basketball mean without Russia?

But to see what European basketball means without Russia. There are two parts. The first concerns players and coaches. Both the VTB league, which has developed strongly in recent years, and the two top tournaments (Euroleague, Eurocup) offered ground for the development of top Russian teams.

The vast country became a major destination for American and European players and coaches, with contracts often thrown far beyond the logic of the old continent. The money spent by the Russians – mostly CSKA – seduced the other “elite” teams. First the Turks, who once had the opportunity to compete with them, and then the two Spanish superpowers, Real and Barcelona, ​​​​who save significant sums for basketball every year because of football.

Of course, if the gates to Russia are closed forever, the players and coaches will be the first to be harmed, as most are eyeing a settlement of the contracts. Without the Russians’ ‘crazy money’, the rest of Europe’s clubs have no reason to… exaggerate.

On the other hand, you have to see what the Russian basketball market really is. And here, in stark contrast to the fancy names of the first-line players, the reality is vastly different. Conversely, CSKA, with a budget of EUR 30-40 million per year, has similar revenues in terms of television rights, sponsorship programs and tickets. They’re not even among the top four or five teams in the top flight in that area.

Those who wait

Obviously, without the giant CSKA Moscow, the EuroLeague’s reputation is directly affected, we don’t discuss it. But it’s not a financial disaster for the organization. Suppose the participation of Russian teams is impossible at the beginning of the next season. How much worse will the Euroleague get?

The participation of Virtus Bologna, Partizan and Valencia should be considered certain, either through Eurocup, where they are already starring, or by direct invitation. All three clubs invested a lot last season, have a historical background and a lot of people who follow them. Unless the event is better, it certainly won’t lag behind with the Russian clubs present.

And in the background… Jordi

Meanwhile, the war crisis has another important aspect for the EuroLeague. It’s the return of Jordi Bertomeu. EuroLeague’s discounted CEO is back in the spotlight, taking initiatives and taking care of problems.

We remind you that CSKA is one of the seven teams (six in turn) that initiated the process of Euroleague’s dismissal from Jordi’s services. Bertomeu will of course remain in office until the summer, assuming that CSKA no longer has a say in the EuroLeague processes for alpha-beta reasons, the brittle 6:5 (for Jordi’s departure) among shareholders will turn into a 5 :5 draw .

And there it will be different now.