An update to our fans and stakeholders:

After months of attempting to engage with the British Basketball Federation (BBF), Super League Basketball (SLB) has served the BBF with a Letter Before Action in its dispute with the governing body over their process to sell the future operation of the men’s professional league in Great Britain.

The SLB is owned by the nine top professional men’s basketball clubs in Great Britain, with franchise areas throughout England and Scotland and plans for expansion next year.

The BBF has sought to license a new operator via a process that breached UK competition law and FIBA regulations. The BBF falsely claimed that the Clubs were key stakeholders in that process, without involving or engaging with them at any stage.

The SLB was hoping to resolve this matter amicably, but the BBF has made it clear that it is unwilling to change its position. The SLB is left with no alternative and with unanimous support from all nine Clubs, the SLB has now served the BBF with a Letter Before Action setting out its claim. This was done two weeks ago, yet the BBF is continuing with its sale process.

A SLB spokesperson said:

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