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![\"FLP](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/FLP_0660-1.jpg\")
\t\tGB men have been banned from international competition amid the row\t<\/p>\n
The chief executive of the Great Britain Basketball League (GBBL) has moved to make peace with the existing clubs and the sport\u2019s governing body following the 12-month civil war<\/a> that has resulted in the men\u2019s national team being suspended from international competition.<\/p>\n In a letter sent to the interim chair of the British Basketball Federation (BBF), Grace Jacca<\/a>, GBBL chief executive Marshall Glickman says that the new league has no objection to the current nine clubs continuing to run Super League Basketball (SLB), and will not hinder their attempts to sign overseas players by lobbying the Home Office to withhold Governing Body Endorsements (GBEs)<\/a>.<\/p>\n The letter, which has been seen by City AM, was also sent to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and the chairs of UK Sport and Sport England, who are threatening to withhold funding of \u00a34.75m due to be paid to the BBF in the run-up to the 2028 Olympics.<\/p>\n Glickman\u2019s intervention follows the decision of world governing body Fiba to suspend the BBF earlier this month<\/a> after a two-month investigation into concerns over its governance.\u00a0<\/p>\n Earlier this year the BBF awarded a 15-year licence to run a top-tier league to GBBL<\/a>, a consortium led by former NBA executive Glickman, which led to the existing SLB clubs launching legal action in the High Court.\u00a0<\/p>\n The GBE concession is particularly significant, as for much of the year the BBF was refusing to provide clubs with the required documentation to apply for visas for overseas signings, which in many cases hindered their summer recruitment.<\/p>\n Glickman\u2019s group, which is backed by Seattle-based private equity company West River Group and several unknown athlete investors, wants to resolve the dispute without going to court and has made the first move.<\/p>\n Glickman\u2019s letter to BBF, SLB and government<\/p>\n His letter has been sent to all relevant parties involved including BBF\u2019s acting chair Jacca, who was appointed just before they were suspended by FIBA earlier this month after Chris Grant stepped down citing \u201cpersonal reasons\u201d.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n \t\t\tBBF chair Grant\u2019s exit won\u2019t affect new basketball league plan, says GBBL<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe believe our position is a pragmatic way forward,\u201d Glickman writes. \u201cGBBL has no objection to SLB: 1. Operating a men\u2019s professional basketball league in Great Britain.<\/p>\n \u201c2. SLB players receiving Letters of Clearance in accordance with FIBA regulations; SLB players and coaches receiving a Governing Body Endorsement to allow foreigners to obtain the necessary visas to participate in Great Britain; SLB having access to FIBA-licensed referees; SLB having access to other FIBA services and adhering to its regulations.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the spirit of this clarification, we encourage and expect BBF to take all steps necessary to settle the claim against both BBF and GBBL, and including your counterclaim against SLB<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cGBBL is available at any time to participate in discussions with all stakeholders, with the objective of crafting a positive outcome that addresses the long-term growth of British basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n FIBA\u2019s decision to suspend the federation has cast doubt on whether the GBBL will launch as planned in 2027, with the new competition\u2019s start date having already been put back by 12 months<\/a>. <\/p>\n Due to the stand-off with the SLB clubs, the new venture does not currently have any teams, venues or commercial partners.<\/p>\n The immediate future for the Great Britain men\u2019s team is also uncertain, with a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania due to take place later this month now in doubt.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n