Open Letter Responses, Euro Blocks, and the Weeks That Followed

It’s been a bruising few weeks for British basketball fans.

Since the publication of the Open Letter to the BBF, SLB and GBBL, we’ve seen some significant developments. All three organisations issued formal responses, and while they varied in depth and tone, they signalled at least some willingness to engage with the concerns raised by fans.

But what followed was more troubling.

Manchester Basketball were denied entry into the Basketball Champions League. And now, Super League Basketball has announced it is taking legal action against the BBF.

This statement won’t cover everything, but it’s important that the BBFA adds its voice. Because we believe fans deserve clarity — and deserve to be part of the conversation.

On the Open Letter

We’ve had a lot of messages asking for our response to the statements issued by the BBF, SLB and GBBL.

In truth, we haven’t had the capacity to properly analyse and respond to those statements in the way they deserve. But we’ve read them. And we know many of you have too. The discussions they’ve started haven’t gone away. And they’ll continue to inform what we do next — and how we hold people to account.

Manchester Blocked From Europe

Last week, the BBF refused to endorse Manchester’s entry into the 2025–26 Basketball Champions League qualifiers.

The reasons given were outlined in a letter to stakeholders and later shared publicly via Hoopsfix — citing governance concerns, league regulation, and the BBF’s belief that the SLB’s current licensing model did not meet the requirements for FIBA endorsement. The BBF say they offered a one-year licence that would have brought the SLB under their formal regulatory oversight for the season. That offer was not accepted.

This was a complex situation. But the result is simple: a British team — a team with ambition, investment, and a genuine opportunity to compete — won’t be representing us in Europe.

That’s a huge blow. Not just for Manchester, but for British basketball as a whole.

We’re not here to relitigate every line of correspondence or every failed negotiation. But as fans, we should be clear about one thing: this is not good enough. We should not be watching European qualifiers from the sidelines. And it’s a sad indictment of the state of the sport that once again, off-court governance has robbed us of an on-court opportunity.

Legal Action from the SLB

In response to the BBF’s decision, Super League Basketball have announced they are commencing legal proceedings against the Federation. Their full statement outlines their case and intent.

We’re not lawyers. And we’re not here to adjudicate legal disputes. What we care about is where this leads.

If legal action is what it takes to bring resolution, transparency and lasting agreement about how the sport is structured in this country — then let it happen. Fans don’t want posturing. We want progress. We want leadership. And we want to get back to focusing on the basketball.

Where the BBFA Stands

The BBFA exists to represent fans. To bring your voice into the conversations that shape British basketball. We're not a governing body. We're not here to run the sport. But we are now a recognised, legitimate part of the ecosystem — and we’ve been proud to have constructive contact with the BBF, SLB and GBBL in recent months.

Just as importantly: we’re not a protest movement. We’re not here to lead walkouts or call for heads to roll. That kind of response might have its place — but it’s not the role we believe best serves the long-term interests of fans.

Instead, our focus is on being a credible, consistent presence. We're here to listen, reflect the mood of supporters, and hold decision-makers to account by staying in the room — not by shouting from the sidelines.

That might be slower. It might be less visible. But it means the people in charge can’t pretend fans aren’t paying attention. And it gives us a chance to build something longer-lasting — a fan voice that doesn’t just flare up when things go wrong, but stays engaged when things need to be built better.

Our commitment is to the long term. To progress, not drama. To helping make British basketball something that works — for clubs, for players, and for the people who keep showing up to support it.

A Final Thought

There’s work to do. And right now, most of it is happening behind closed doors in legal filings, in board meetings, and in private negotiations.

But we’re not going anywhere. We’ll keep asking questions. We’ll keep showing up. And we’ll keep making the case for a better, more unified British basketball — one that puts players, clubs and fans first.