Basketball club “Rigas Zeļļi” did not go to the European Cups after 2nd place in its first year of existence, but does so after a lower achievement or 3rd place a year later in 2025 – in this article about some legal aspects, why is it so illogical that in the context of the FIBA EuroCup, a lower place in the tournament gave a better chance than the previously obtained higher place?
Entry into the Latvian League
First of all, the structure of the organized basketball system should be assessed. How easy or difficult is it for a team “from outside” to get participation in the tournament?
The threshold for participation in the most prestigious Latvian basketball tournament is more organizational and financial than sporting – if in amateur competition one has to fight for the right to participate, then at the “professional” (semi-professional) level in Latvia there are an average of 6 to 8 teams, where every addition to the team list is worth super-high. For comparison, in football, you have to show sporting results in order to be able to make it to the Premier / supreme / higer league (the existence of a FIFA/UEFA requirement), but in the LBL there is no such criterion (the absence of a FIBA requirement, partly).
This difference arises from the relatively low level of competition between clubs for places in the Latvian basketball elite, including the average in Europe as a whole.
Rīgas Zeļļi have never played in the LBL 2nd league, but immediately started at the highest level – having managed to convince the LBS (LBL) management that the project is at the level of a professional team.
FIBA requirements
Although FIBA does not require national basketball federations to create a hierarchical system in national tournaments, a certain order exists in European cups. A newly established club cannot, based only on good organizational criteria, bypass the sporting system.
FIBA tournament regulations regularly contain strict requirements for the fulfillment of sporting criteria, and only then can one assess how well the club’s organization is structured.
FIBA has the following rule in place:
Any European National Federation which is a member of FIBA is entitled, in accordance with the provisions set out below and according to the regulations valid for the respective national competitions, to enter a certain number of its clubs in the FIBA Europe Club Competitions
This year, the FIBA regulations contain the following text:
RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2025-2026 SEASON
5. ATIONAL FEDERATIONS
Any European National Federation which is a member of FIBA is entitled, in accordance with the provisions set out below and according to the regulations valid for the respective national competitions, to enter a maximum of two (2) clubs in the FIBA Europe Cup 2025-2026. The National Federation of the FEC Champion of the previous season shall be entitled to register up to three (3) clubs for the FIBA Europe Cup 2025-2026, if the FEC Champion is back in the competition and the two (2) other clubs are eligible based on the domestic ranking (see article 5.2). The number of clubs participating in the Regular Season shall be either thirty-two (32) or forty (40) depending on the number of registrations. Up to twenty (20) of the clubs participating in the Regular Season will be the losers of the Qualification Rounds of the Basketball Champions League. 5.2 6. 7. 7.1 The selection of the clubs will be based on sporting results of clubs in their national leagues. Only clubs that did not finish in the bottom 3rd of their top national league standings in the previous season can be registered by the National Federations for the FIBA Europe Cup. If necessary, one (1) or two (2) Qualification Round(s) or Qualification Tournaments will be played to determine the thirtytwo (32) or forty (40) clubs that will play in the Regular Season. Should the club(s) of the National Federation(s) not use its (their) right to the place(s) in the competition, then FIBA Europe shall decide on the allocation of such place(s).
6. CLUBS
Any club which is registered through the National Federation is entitled to participate in the competition provided that the following requirements are guaranteed:
“Registered with” vs. “member”
In the Latvian law, to be “registered with” usually means being a member of that federation – which operates as association and has historically managed this through “member’s” status.
Therefore, just to be safe that the team will not suddenly move its legal operatinos to any other jurisdiction, the registrations usually would fall under this interpretation.
Rīgas Zeļļi member status in LBS
As can be seen from FIBA documents, LBS has the right to nominate only existing [members] for participation in European Cups.
In the 2023/2024 season, Rīgas Zeļļi won 2nd place in the LBL, even without being a member of LBS.
As is known, the silver medalists applied for this status only on 17.07.2024 (“LBS Board decision of 18.07.2024 (minutes 13, article 9) – LBS member decision (exception to article 3.7 of the LBS Statutes).”)
As indicated in the public minutes of LBS:
K.Cipruss informs that LBS has received the application of the association “Rīgas Zeļļi” dated July 17, 2024 for granting member status and informs about the association’s achievements in basketball development to date.
Now, Rīgas Zeļļi is an LBS member, therefore, the success of the 2024/2025 season allows the club to receive FIBA approval in 2025/2026 on the basis of sporting principles.
FIBA onboards Rigas Zelli
FIBA release on team status here: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-europe-cup-25-26/news/clubs-announced-for-fiba-europe-cup-2025-26-season