NBA and FIBA explore new European professional basketball league

NBA and FIBA explore new European professional basketball league
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (right) addresses the media during a press conference with the Secretary General of FIBA Andreas Zagklis (David Dow/NBAE)
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Updated 28 March 2025
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NBA and FIBA explore new European professional basketball league

NBA and FIBA explore new European professional basketball league
  • Organizations plan additional support to develop Europe’s basketball ecosystem

UAE: The National Basketball Association and International Basketball Federation have announced they will jointly explore a new professional men’s basketball league in Europe.

The two organizations plan to continue discussions that began more than a year ago with prospective investors, teams, arena developers and commercial partners. If established, the league would bring the sport to more fans and accelerate its growth across the continent.

Under the initiative, the new league would integrate into the current European basketball landscape, with teams also participating in their respective national leagues. In addition to permanent teams, it would offer a merit-based pathway to qualification.

The NBA and FIBA would also dedicate financial support and resources to continue development of Europe’s basketball ecosystem, including club academies and the NBA and FIBA’s existing programs to develop aspiring players, coaches and referees at all levels.

The announcement was made by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis following a meeting of the NBA Board of Governors in New York and a FIBA Executive Committee meeting earlier this month in Mies, Switzerland.

“The European basketball community is proud of its seven-decade history of international club competitions and the elite talent it develops,” said Zagklis.

“Yet given the sport’s popularity and the success of national team competitions, there is untapped potential in European club basketball. A new league in Europe would combine the NBA’s business acumen with the international expertise of FIBA to attract new basketball fans and investors alike, maximize club benefits, and establish synergies for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

He added: “The NBA and FIBA are uniquely positioned to build on the rich tradition of European basketball. We look forward to collaborating with FIBA to explore the creation of a new league for fans across the continent.”


Al-Hilal storm into Champions League last four

Al-Hilal storm into Champions League last four
Updated 7 sec ago
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Al-Hilal storm into Champions League last four

Al-Hilal storm into Champions League last four
  • Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scores first in 7-0 rout of South Korea’s Gwangju
  • Al-Hilal will play domestic rivals Al-Ahli or Thailand’s Buriram United in Tuesday’s semifinal

JEDDAH: Al-Hilal thrashed Gwangju FC 7-0 on Friday to ease into the semifinals of the AFC Champions League.
An early goal from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic gave the Saudi Arabians the lead and they never looked back, much to the delight of their fans in Jeddah.
They were three goals to the good by the break and the second half was even better. On this performance, the four-time champions, who had been in uncertain form in the Saudi Pro League of late, will take some stopping on their quest for a fifth continental crown.
It took just six minutes for the home fans — who provided a fantastic tifo backdrop — to be celebrating. Salem Al-Dawsari swung over a corner and Milinkovic-Savic broke free at the near post to send a perfect header into the far corner.
The South Koreans should have been level just three minutes later. Reis’ pass sent Jasir Asani through on goal. The stadium sat back waiting for the tournament’s top scorer to grab goal No. 10 but his shot was blocked by Yassine Bounou. It turned out to be a turning point in the game because just past the midway point of the first half Hilal extended their lead.
Malcom had space down the right, found Marcos Leonardo on the edge of the six-yard box and his fellow Brazilian made no mistake with his first-time shot.
Leonardo then turned provider. Still inside his own half, he found Al-Dawsari just inside Gwangju’s. The international outpaced the defense, sprinted into the area and found the back of the net with a confident finish.
That seemed to be that and the win was sealed 10 minutes after the break as Aleksandar Mitrovic got in on the act. Fellow Serbian Milinkovic-Savic swung over a cross from the right and there was the striker to attack the bouncing ball and lash it into the bottom corner.
From then it was all about how many the Riyadh giants would score. The fifth came 11 minutes from time. Malcom swapped passes with Mitrovic at the edge of the area and then slipped the ball past the goalkeeper. There was time for two more from two substitutes.
Nasser Al-Dawsari grabbed the sixth and Abdullah Al-Hamdan completed the rout.
Al-Hilal can now sit back and prepare for Tuesday’s semifinal against either domestic rivals Al-Ahli or Thailand’s Buriram United.


Eubank Jr. fined after missing weight for Benn grudge bout

Eubank Jr. fined after missing weight for Benn grudge bout
Updated 15 min 3 sec ago
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Eubank Jr. fined after missing weight for Benn grudge bout

Eubank Jr. fined after missing weight for Benn grudge bout
  • A rehydration clause states that Eubank Jr. will be unable to weigh more than 10lb heavier on Saturday morning and failure to abide by this will result in another fine

LONDON: Chris Eubank Jr. will be fined £375,000 ($499,000) after failing to reach the correct weight ahead of his grudge fight against British rival Conor Benn on Saturday.
Eubank Jr. had two attempts at weighing in at 160lb, missing his first try by 0.2lb before falling short again by 0.05lb.
The 35-year-old faces the fine after agreeing to a clause in his catchweight fight contract with Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A rehydration clause states that Eubank Jr. will be unable to weigh more than 10lb heavier on Saturday morning and failure to abide by this will result in another fine.
The fight is set to take place despite Eubank’s shortcomings, with Benn, 28, coming in well under the limit at 156.4lb.
Eubank Jr. posted a video of him cutting weight in his hotel after the news with the caption “pain is temporary ... glory is forever.”
Benn, responding to video, wrote: “Christopher who are you trying to fool and get sympathy from? I’m coming up to your weight, a weight you’ve made your last three fights and most of your career.
“It’s like you’re looking for excuses already? First time you’ve ever missed weight and first time you’ve ever posted a weight cut.”
Eubank Jr.’s fine comes after he was handed a £100,000 penalty in February for slapping Benn with an egg in their Manchester press conference.
The antagonistic relationship between the boxers mirrors the feud between their fathers Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who fought twice in the 1990s.


Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation

Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation
Updated 38 min 33 sec ago
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Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation

Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation
  • Mai bint Ubaid Al-Rasheed wins by two votes from Iraqi challenger
  • Move set to strengthen role of Saudi women in regional sports leadership

JEDDAH: Mai bint Ubaid Al-Rasheed has become the first Saudi woman to be elected as president of the Arab Badminton Federation.
The election was held on Friday during the organization’s general assembly on the sidelines of the Badminton World Federation’s annual congress in China.
Al-Rasheed secured 10 votes in the poll, two more than Iraqi candidate Fann Shawqi Youssef, the ABF said in a statement.
She will take over the presidency from Sawsan Hajji Taqawi, who had held the position since 2018.
Al-Rasheed’s victory was widely hailed as a positive step in strengthening the role of Saudi women in regional sports leadership.
During the vote, Tabash Al-Jilali of Algeria, Iyad Mahmoud from Syria, Samir Shaghouri of Lebanon and Yaqoub Al-Issa from Palestine were elected as committee members.
Yazeed Al-Massoud was named secretary-general of the Arab Badminton Federation for the 2025–28 term.
The statement said that the new leadership marked a step forward in strengthening Arab cooperation and advancing the sport of badminton both regionally and internationally.
The ABF was established in Cairo in 1996.


Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top

Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top
Updated 25 April 2025
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Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top

Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top
  • It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn’t see earlier in the season
  • “We learn to do better. To create another bond with the team, to celebrate when we score a goal,” he said

LONDON: Pep Guardiola has vowed Manchester City will be back to their best next season after losing their “spirit” during a turbulent campaign that exposed an unexpected lack of hunger in his side.
Currently third in the Premier League, City — who had won the previous four English titles — want to salvage a dismal year by winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League via a top five finish.
Guardiola’s side face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semifinals on Sunday knowing defeat at Wembley would condemn them to finish without a major trophy for the first time since 2016-17.
But Guardiola is already thinking about how to avoid a repeat of City’s stunning struggles and he believes he has found the solution.
The City boss noticed the passion his players celebrated with after Bernardo Silva put them ahead in a crucial 2-1 win against top-five rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday.
It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn’t see earlier in the season, when he felt City took success for granted after winning six of the last seven Premier League titles.
“We learn to do better. To create another bond with the team, to celebrate when we score a goal,” he told reporters on Friday.
“When Bernardo scored the first goal on Tuesday we celebrated. The body language, the passion.
“We didn’t celebrate the same way when we scored in October. That stupid detail tells a lot.
“We have to recover the spirit we had in the first nine years. This year we didn’t have it.”
Guardiola hopes his quest to reignite his players’ fire will eventually close the gap on champions-elect Liverpool.
“Next season will be better. Everybody learned the lesson. I think we will compete a bit better for the Premier League,” he said.
“I’m not saying we will win it but we will be more who we are. I think the players understand. You have to fight to defend your club. I’m pretty sure we will be back again.”
Guardiola took heart from the way Rodri has been trying to inspire his team-mates as the Spain midfielder recovers from the knee injury that has sidelined him since September.
“I love that,” Guardiola said. “The guy doesn’t play and I allow him to be a manager.
“He will help the guys and it is the way we create a team. It is something special.”
City are aiming to reach the FA Cup final for a third successive season after winning the competition in 2023 and losing last year’s showpiece against Manchester United.
They face a tricky test from Nuno Espirito Santo’s team after losing 1-0 at the City Ground in the Premier League in March, a result that maintained Forest’s unexpected push for a first Champions League campaign since 1980-81.
“It would be good to make the final but we have a serious and tough rival. Nuno has been incredible,” Guardiola said.
This is the seventh successive season that City have reached the FA Cup semifinals, but they have only lifted the trophy twice in the Guardiola era.
No matter the result at Wembley, Guardiola acknowledged the season has been a failure.
“I said many times the season has not been good, regardless if we reach the final or go to the Champions League,” he said.
“Too many matches have not been good. We would avoid bigger damage for the club if we win the cup. But what will dictate the season is the Premier League.”


Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure

Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure
Updated 25 April 2025
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Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure

Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure
  • “When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea said
  • “What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest”

SEVILLE, Spain: Copa del Rey final referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea welled up on Friday when speaking about pressure officials have faced from Real Madrid TV this season.
Madrid take on rivals Barcelona on Saturday in the Spanish cup final in Seville and this week the club’s television channel launched a video attacking the official, which they have done to various referees this season.
Los Blancos also published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
“When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea told a news conference.
“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional.
“This is really messed up... but the day I leave (the job), I want my son to be proud of what his father is, and what refereeing is, it has given us many values.”
Wiping away tears, the 39-year-old called for deeper thought on the issue of referee abuse.
“It’s not right what we are going through, many colleagues, and not just in professional football, but also at grassroots level,” he added.
“Everyone should reflect about where we want to go, about what we want from sport and from football.”
Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the referee in charge of VAR for the final, suggested officials could take further action over Real Madrid TV’s broadcasts in the coming weeks.
“Have no doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than we are taking,” said Gonzalez Fuertes.
“We will not continue to allow what is happening. Soon, you will hear from us.
“We are going to make history, because we are not going to continue to bear what we are putting up with.”