Basketball Team Calls for Resignation of Lebanon's Federation

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The national basketball team urged on Sunday the federation to resign after it returned to Beirut from the Philippines following Lebanon's suspension by FIBA.

During a press conference he held at Rafik Hariri International Airport, the team's coach Ghassan Sarkis said: “The team was very close to achieving the dream” of victory.

“On behalf of the players, I call on the federation to resign,” he said after he accused it of failing to work properly and being amateurish.

Sarkis called for the formation of a transitional committee and the election of a new federation that comes up with a new vision for basketball.

“There should be an Intifada,” he said. “We want reform staring tomorrow … We want a new horizon.”

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has suspended Lebanon's basketball federation for four years because of political bickering between two clubs.

"After a thorough review of the situation, FIBA notes that the LBF is not properly armed to face political interferences and solve sporting disputes within its own structures," said a statement.

Basketball is one of Lebanon's most popular sports, and top clubs are owned or funded by politicians.

FIBA stripped Lebanon this year of the hosting rights for the Asia Championship, because of the conflict in Syria.

Comments 5
Missing samiam 21 July 2013, 16:12

resignation should be the first step, followed by a public flogging of said officials.

Default-user-icon Piotr (Guest) 21 July 2013, 16:22

Who ever you are... I totally agree with you

Missing helicopter 21 July 2013, 18:04

Basketball is one of Lebanon's most popular sports, and top clubs are owned or funded by politicians.................
Is there anything in Lebanon not owned or financed by politicians (thugs). Sports teams, to airports, to seaport, to hospitals, to schools wa hallumma jarran.
They even put their hands on public property they do not own and turn it into private property for their causes. Criminals running a country.

Thumb Senescence 21 July 2013, 19:11

The problem here I think is that they don't really know what a politician does, or what it is even. All the 'big boys' are still into the feudal warlord mentality and still think through such a perspective.

There needs to be a serious trend of rehabilitation in that regard and the paving of the way for new, educated persons to occupy such positions.

Missing VINCENT 21 July 2013, 20:56

May these politicians/team owner should take on "jousting" like old England.