April 2, 2020 - The Croatian Basketball Federation has decided to suspend all competitions and the champion will not be named this season.
HRT writes that in the next 2020/2021 season, “starting" positions from the beginning of the 2019/2020 season will be "mapped".
We fully transmit the news from the HKS website below:
“In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, following the recommendation of the Civil Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, the Board of Directors of the Croatian Basketball Federation, through an electronic session, decided to terminate all basketball competitions and end the 2019/2020 competitive season.
In the leagues run by the Croatian Basketball Federation, no champions will be declared or ranked, and in the 2020/21 season, the same clubs that played in the 2019/20 season will appear in each individual league.
The leadership of the HKS, the Competition System Commission and representatives of clubs and other basketball associations have been in daily contact in recent weeks, and after extensive consultations, a proposal for a decision was unanimously adopted by the HKS Board of Directors.
This decision may, depending on the future circumstances, instructions and recommendations of the National Civil Protection Headquarters, or in accordance with any changes made to the sporting acts, be partially modified and a timely new decision will be made.
Namely, given the apparently difficult economic situation that awaits all clubs and basketball staff, the HKS has today, on April 1, submitted a request for changes to the Law on Sport to the Central State Office for Sport and the Croatian Olympic Committee regarding the change in the competition system in extraordinary circumstances. The Law on Sport stipulates that the competition system must be adopted at least one year before the application of this system, and that all sports competitions, including basketball, have stopped. Consequently, contracts between clubs and players and other sports professionals are terminated, including coaches, physical therapists, administrative staff, and most importantly - contracts that clubs and other sports associations are funding, it is not likely that the system of competition currently in place will be respected.
"Due to the economic situation in which we will find ourselves in September or October when the leagues need to start, certain solutions have to be sought already. As the crisis has hit everyone, the same will certainly be reflected in sports. Therefore, we want to make any changes to the competition system easier and more accessible so that the basketball clubs can better prepare for the next season,” explained the core of the petition, HKS President Stojan Vrankovic.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.
