GB SET TO LOSE HOME ADVANTAGE

By Mark Woods on September 18, 2020

Great Britain’s men are set to lose out on a glamour home tie with France in November.

FIBA have confirmed international fixtures in the November 2020 and February 2021 will be staged at single sites within a “bubble” with one or two groups centralised together.

GB are due to host the French in a EuroBasket qualifier on November 26 with Montenegro arriving three days later. While GB’s women are also slated to meet Poland on November 15 in a vital Euro qualification tie.

British Basketball could, in theory, bid to host a venue but the federation has not bid to stage a single FIBA event since its reformation in 2006.

In a statement, FIBA said: “Considering the health and safety of players, coaches and officials, and following a recommendation from the Medical Commission and the Competitions Commission, the Executive Committee has decided regarding the November 2020 and February 2021 Qualifiers for the Continental Cups as follows:

All the games of both windows should be conducted in “bubbles”, instead of home and away games, with the agreement of the host public health authorities and in compliance with FIBA health protocols (including PCR testing and controlled entry into a secure environment in the competition city);
Each “bubble” will consist of 4 or 8 teams (one or two qualification groups). The hosts will be decided at regional level and will be announced in due course.

“FIBA will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation on a daily basis and communicate further updates in regard to FIBA Competitions when necessary.”

Photo: Ahmedphotos

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