GB Senior Men likely to lose home double-header as qualifying windows move to ‘bubbles’

Image Credit: FIBA

FIBA have announced the upcoming international windows will move to central venue ‘bubbles’ due to COVID-19, meaning the Great Britain Senior Men will likely lose out on a home double-header in November.

The only way the GB squad would not lose out on the home contests would be the unlikely scenario the British Basketball Federation applies to host of one of the ‘bubbles’, which will consist of either 4 or 8 teams.

It means GB’s scheduled home contests against France on November 26 and Montenegro on November 29 will likely happen somewhere else in mainland Europe, along with their scheduled away games on February 19 and 22 against Germany and France, respectively.

In a statement published on their website 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.

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