Benin basketball: five teams banned from the league for two years
The start of Benin's professional basketball leagues has been hit by a club boycott and sanctions from the Committee
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Tensions are running high between the Benin Basketball Federation (FBBB) and its affiliated associations and clubs. Saturday 11 February indeed marked the launch of the professional basketball leagues, in both the men's Ligue Pro A and the women's Ligue Pro. Against all expectations, however, only one of the four games scheduled for the opening round was played. The reason? Several players refused to take to the court.
The players' demands
A collective was therefore formed spontaneously to send a letter dated 11 February to the president of the Basketball Federation. The letter is indeed signed by the "Collective of senior men's and women's players of the clubs ASPAC, Énergie BB and Renaissance". In the letter, the group asks the authority to reconsider its decision to play all of their "league games (home and away) in Eya. Each club has its own court and can host its home games". The collective goes on to set a sine qua non condition before playing. "...we want it to be taken into account. Otherwise, we will unfortunately not be able to play the games", the dissenters insist.
The League lays down the law
The Management Committee of the Professional Basketball League promptly held an emergency meeting on Sunday 12 February. The body ruled on these events and handed down decisions in a circular dated 13 January. It is signed, among others, by the committee's vice-president. First, the senior men's and women's teams of Énergie Basket Club and ASPAC BBC, and the senior women's team of Renaissance BBC, are nonetheless excluded. This is "for a period of 2 years (including 1 year to be served) from competitions organised by the professional basketball league". Second, the committee decided on "the exclusion for a period of 2 years from competitions organised by the professional basketball league of the coaches and players of the team listed on the match sheet" for each game . Third, a "financial penalty of 5 million FCFA" is imposed on the sports company of each sanctioned team.
What happens to the leagues now?
As it stands, three clubs, namely Élan Coton, ASPAL Basket Club and Renaissance BBC, will now contest the men's Ligue Pro A. In the women's competition, Élan Coton are the only side in good standing. The suspended and fined teams can appeal to the Benin Basketball Federation, in line with Article 41 of the competition rules.
Rachidi DOSSA
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