The EuroLeague has officially responded to a letter from the Greek basketball club Olympiacos that questioned the fairness of the bidding process for the 2026 Final Four. The club had made its concerns public, leading to reactions from the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board (EHCB) and the Greek government.
In its reply, the EuroLeague stated that it had already addressed the issues raised by Olympiacos during a private board meeting in July. The organization also noted that the current bids from Athens and Belgrade to host the event are three times larger than past offers, highlighting the growing value of the Final Four.
🏀 Olympiacos Raises Concerns
The situation began when Olympiacos sent a letter to EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas. In the letter, the club expressed concerns about the selection process for the 2026 Final Four host city, particularly regarding the bid from Athens and the involvement of certain individuals. Olympiacos later shared this letter with the public, bringing the disagreement into the open.
📝 EuroLeague’s Official Reply
EuroLeague’s management responded by explaining that all of Olympiacos’ questions had been answered in a previous meeting. The organization expressed disappointment that the club chose to release confidential information to the media, which they felt included “misleading and inaccurate statements.” They also pointed out that all clubs have the right to review EuroLeague contracts at their offices to ensure transparency.
🏛️ Clarifying Roles and Procedures
To clear up any confusion, EuroLeague confirmed that EHCB executive director Goran Sasic is not officially representing the league in the host city negotiations. This was further supported by Greece’s minister of sports, Giannis Vroutsis, who stated that the Greek government communicates directly with EuroLeague, not with any third-party representatives.
🗳️ A Secret Vote Will Decide the Host
Looking ahead, EuroLeague announced that the final decision on the 2026 Final Four host city will be made through a secret ballot. This voting method was requested by some of the clubs to ensure the process is fair and impartial for everyone involved. The choice will be between the two strong bids submitted by Athens and Belgrade.
