The British Basketball Federation was founded in 2006.
The British Basketball Federation (BBF) has announced it will enter liquidation amidst an ongoing crisis within the sport in the UK.
According to a statement released by the BBF, the organization has ceased trading “due to a significant and unanticipated reduction in income” and “unforeseen expenditure resulting in the company’s inability to meet its liabilities.”
Reports indicate that the BBF’s financial situation was impacted by legal costs incurred during its dispute with Super League Basketball (SLB). External reports confirm, external
In April, the BBF awarded a 15-year license to GBB League Ltd (GBBL) to operate a new professional men’s competition, known as the Great Britain Basketball League.
The BBF stated that GBBL, a consortium spearheaded by American businessman Marshall Glickman, would provide £15 million in funding over the first two years.
However, the existing nine SLB clubs alleged that the governing body’s tender process was “illegal and unjust” and subsequently declined to participate in the new league.
A week prior, SLB reached an agreement with basketball’s global governing body, FIBA, to oversee the top-tier men’s competition in Great Britain.
Last month, FIBA suspended the BBF due to governance concerns.
The BBF’s statement further emphasized the immediate priority for domestic basketball stakeholders to collaborate with FIBA “to ensure the ongoing stability and security of the Great Britain national teams,” including participation in upcoming FIBA competitions.
FIBA, which established a task force in August to investigate regulatory non-compliance within British basketball, affirmed its continued support for the BBF in “restoring its operations and securing its position as the basketball governing body in Great Britain.”
UK Sport commented, “We have taken robust steps throughout this period of uncertainty to safeguard public funds and to help enable GB teams to continue to compete.”
“We will now work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the basketball community to establish a way forward for the sport.”
A GBBL spokesperson told BBC Sport that they were “working with its legal counsel to evaluate its options” regarding the status of the license awarded by the BBF.
“In accordance with the terms of the license, significant sums of money have been paid to the BBF and this is of grave concern to GBBL,” they added.
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