FIBA to Consider Unfreezing Lebanon's Basketball Membership after Local Disputes Resolved

The local basketball team of Amchit dropped over the weekend a lawsuit that was at the heart of the country's basketball crisis that had prompted the world governing body for basketball, FIBA, to suspend its membership, reported LBCI television.

FIBA accepted Amchit's decision to drop its lawsuit against the Lebanese Basketball Union, which will lead to the unfreezing of Lebanon's membership.

It will take a final decision on the case on Monday.

Restoring the Lebanese national team will allow it to take part in the 27th Asian Championship set to take place in the Philippines from August 1-11.

FIBA's decision will also allow the team to continue its participation at the 35th William Jones Cup International Basketball Tournament held in Taiwan.

The basketball crisis in Lebanon began with disputes over elections within the union.

The dispute took place between the Free Patriotic Movement, which backs the Champville basketball team, and an alliance of President Michel Suleiman, who backs the Amchit team, the Mustaqbal Movement, and caretaker Minister Mohammed al-Safadi.

A dispute emerged during a league game between Champville and Amchit, which prompted judicial interference, which sided with the latter team, said LBCI.

The union, which was dominated by FPM officials after the elections, considered the judicial interference as being politicized, which resulted in the suspension of the league.

The union then requested that FIBA intervene to resolve the crisis.

It demanded that the disputed sides end their problems by signing an understanding, which they failed to do.

This prompted it to threaten to suspend Lebanon's membership if the disputed parties did not drop respective lawsuits they had filed over this issue.

FIBA had rejected the judiciary's meddling in sports affairs.

The local parties did not comply with the world governing body, forcing it to suspend Lebanon's membership even after it had given it a deadline extension to resolve its disputes.

The basketball players meanwhile filed a petition rejecting that the sport become mired in political affairs.

The dispute was however resolved on Saturday when the appeals court in Metn dropped Amchit's lawsuit in favor of the Lebanese Basketball Union, reported LBCI.

Captain of Lebanon's national team Fadi al-Khatib thanked fans for supporting the sport, demanding an amendment to regulations to allow the development of professional athletes in accordance to world standards.

He also vowed that Lebanon will qualify for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, said LBCI.