SLB serves BBF notice of potential legal action over license dispute

Super League Basketball (SLB) has formally served the British Basketball Federation (BBF) with a Letter Before Action, signalling its intention to pursue legal proceedings in a dispute over the future of the men’s professional league.

The SLB claims the BBF has acted unlawfully in its process to appoint a new operator to run the men’s league. The BBF granted “preferred bidder” status for the long-term license of the professional league in Great Britain to a group led by Marshall Glickman in January, after the SLB opted out of submitting an application for the license due to what they felt were unreasonable and unlawful demands on behalf of the BBF.

An update to our fans and stakeholders: Super League Basketball serves governing body with legal notice of action.

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According to a public statement released by the league on Friday, the BBF’s tender process “breached UK competition law and FIBA regulations,” and failed to engage the clubs despite referring to them as “key stakeholders.”

After what SLB describes as “months of attempting to engage” with the governing body, the organisation says it was left with no choice but to initiate legal action, citing a lack of transparency, poor communication, and a fundamental exclusion from a process that directly affects the clubs’ futures.

“It is regrettable that we have been forced to take this course of action,” an SLB spokesperson said.

“But after months of engagement with the BBF, our repeated efforts to seek clarity and resolution through the appropriate channels have been ignored.

“Having been excluded from a process that directly impacts the future of the sport, despite being described as key stakeholders, the SLB continues to have serious concerns about the legality and transparency of the BBF’s approach, which we believe undermines both the integrity of the sport and the interests of players, fans, and communities across the country.

“We remain steadfast in our view that it was not in the sport’s interest to participate in this process and remain frustrated at the BBF’s lack of transparency and communication considering its role as a governing body, with its actions already having a detrimental impact on Clubs, loyal fans and the sport as a whole.

“The SLB is united with its clubs on the need to bring this ill-fated adventure by the BBF to a close as soon as practical and remains committed to securing a resolution to this matter to allow us to collectively continue our work of establishing and growing the professional basketball league in this country.”

The legal notice was served two weeks ago and outlines the SLB’s concerns and its claim against the BBF. Despite this, the BBF is said to be continuing with its operator appointment process, prompting SLB to deepen the public dispute.

The BBF has been contacted for comment.