The EuroLeague Framework Agreement (EFA) provides for a strict overdue payables process to guarantee regular payments of players’ salaries, which is one of ELPA’s priorities. If a club violates overdue payable rules, the judicial bodies of Euroleague may impose different sanctions on a team, including a ban on the registration of new players and coaches. This is the case for Crvena Zvezda Belgrade.
The strict application of the rules has led to the recent payment of the overdue salaries to all players by Crvena Zvezda, which is a welcome outcome and another proof of the successful system. Due to the severity of violations committed by the club, the independent Finance Panel also decided to impose a financial fine and extended the ban on the registration of new players and coaches against the club until 28 February 2023.
While ELPA supports the existing overdue payables system, it is crucial that the judicial bodies of Euroleague make decisions within a reasonable short timeframe. This has not happened in the present case, which has created an unwanted level of uncertainty, especially for ELPA member Facundo Campazzo, who recently signed with the club. In addition, the length of the process negatively affected public perception of an otherwise important system. Finally, the sanction of 25,000 EUR and a ban on registering new players arguably does not affect the club as much as it affects mainly one player, who cannot exercise his profession at the highest level for the time being, without any fault of his own. For ELPA, this could and should have been avoided.
That is why ELPA will push to implement improvements to the rules not only in terms of efficiency and transparency, which shall prevent similar situations from happening in the future.
ELPA will continue to support Facundo Campazzo in dealing with the legal implications of the decision.
