The EuroLeague season is done.
In a teleconference that took place this morning, EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu suggested the cancelation of the 2019/20 season.
With the players association (ELPA) also against the EuroLeague resumption, Bertomeu made it official more than an hour after the teleconference.
The 11 teams with a guaranteed Euroleague contract that took part in the teleconference agreed with Bertomeu against the resumption of the season.
With the season on pause since March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the players were unable to have access to practice facilities, meaning that they would need more time to get match fit, should the season have restarted.
Most of the players were against the resumption of the season, since this long pause might have caused serious injuries.
The EuroCup season has also been cancelled.
Following the announcement, Jordi Bertomeu said the cancelation of the season has been the most difficult decision:
“Without a doubt, this is the most difficult decision we have had to take in our 20-year history. Due to reasons beyond our control, we have been forced to cut short the most successful and exciting season in European basketball history. This comes after two and a half months in which all the league’s stakeholders maintained their determination and exhausted every possible avenue in trying to deliver a complete and uniquely special season to our fans, whose passion is the driving force for all our efforts. That is our commitment and our passion every single season, and so falling short due to forces beyond anyone’s control is what saddens us most. Nonetheless, record-breaking data showing how much our fans enjoyed the games to date gives us more energy than ever to start planning for an even better 2020-21 season.”
Despite the desire to resume the season, EuroLeague wisely decided to put health and safety first.
“Obviously, we had many motivations to resume the 2019-20 season, but in such an exceptional situation, we have to put people’s health first and ahead of any other interest: our players, our coaches, our referees, our clubs, their staff, our league staff, our broadcasters, and all of their families. By doing so, we stay true to our beliefs and what we stand for.”
The 2020/21 EuroLeague and EuroCup seasons are scheduled to start on October 1 and September 30, 2020, respectively.
