The Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA) has threatened Nigeria with sanctions if it follows through with its decision to abstain from international competitions.
World basketball body FIBA has threatened to sanction Nigeria over its decision to withdraw from international competitions for two years.
FIBA in a letter signed by its Head of Legal, Jaime Lamboy,
and dated May 18, 2022, the body said Nigeria’s decision was in breach of
Article 9.7 of FIBA’s General Statutes.
“National member federations shall manage their affairs
independently and with no influence from third parties,” the letter addressed
to Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Musa Ahmadu-Kida, read in part.
Article 10.2 of the FIBA Statutes stated that on the
initiative of the Secretary-General, FIBA Central Board may suspend a national
member federation for the breach of Article 9.7.
The implication of the sanction would mean that Nigeria will
miss out on the 2024 Olympic Games, as well as the 2025 World Championships for
the male and female teams.
FIBA also reacted to a letter earlier written to them by the
Ahmadu-Kida-led NBBF board.
“In such letter, you pre-emptively informed FIBA of the
apparent decision by the Nigerian Government (Federal Ministry of Youth &
Sports Development) intending to have Nigeria take a break from all
international engagements for two years and enabling an Interim Management
Committee to run the affairs of the basketball in Nigeria,” the letter read.
“As you already are aware, Nigeria is due to participate in
the following FIBA competitions in the upcoming months: FIBA 2023 Basketball
World Cup Qualifiers (FBWC23 Qualifiers) FIBA 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup
(FWBWC22).
“As you are aware, any withdrawal of Nigeria from the
abovementioned competitions will trigger potential disciplinary sanctions as
per the FIBA Internal Regulations. Furthermore, if the absence of Nigeria from
international competitions for the next two years materialises, the
consequences may spread out well past such a two-year period.
“For example, please note that the withdrawal from the
FBWC23 Qualifiers is also a withdrawal from the Paris 2024 Olympic
qualification process. Similarly, depending on third-party results, the same
situation could apply with respect to FIBA AfroBasket 2025.”
“Accordingly, we request from the NBBF to immediately inform
FIBA whether its participation in the abovementioned competitions is or not
ratified.
“We take the opportunity to remind the NBBF of its
obligations to manage its affairs with no influence from third parties, as per
Article 9.6 of FIBA General Statutes.”
This is coming a week after President Muhammadu Buhari
approved with immediate effect, Nigeria’s withdrawal from all international
basketball competitions for two years, following a lingering leadership rift in
the NBBF.
Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, had explained that the
withdrawal would help the country revamp the sport from the grassroots, as well
as put an end to the basketball crises.
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