The international participation of four of the most prominent British basketball clubs —Manchester Basketball, London Lions, Newcastle Eagles, and Bristol Flyers— is seriously at risk following the toughened stance of the British Basketball Federation (BBF). The organization has refused to support their applications to compete in European tournaments for the 2025–26 season, a decision that jeopardizes the international prospects of the sport in the United Kingdom.
The dispute arises in a context of growing institutional tension, after the BBF granted a 15-year license to a new league, the GBBL, managed by a consortium led by former NBA executive Marshall Glickman. The Super League Basketball (SLB) and its nine clubs, including the four mentioned above, have declined to join the initiative, which led the federation to revoke their provisional licenses to operate next season.
A growing conflict threatening the international future of the clubs
As a result of this division, the BBF argues it cannot support applications from clubs not participating in officially sanctioned leagues. It therefore rejected Manchester Basketball’s entry into the Basketball Champions League, also stating the club missed the registration deadline. The same outcome is expected for the London Lions, whose EuroCup application would also be unsupported, and for the Newcastle Eagles and Bristol Flyers, who are seeking entry into the European North Basketball League. Although these latter competitions are not organized by FIBA, it remains unclear whether the British federation can intervene.
Additionally, the BBF has been accused of hindering the visa process for foreign signings by refusing to submit required sponsorship documents to the Home Office for unlicensed clubs. The federation denies this and defends its actions as regulation-compliant. Meanwhile, Manchester is considering legal action for commercial restriction, and other SLB clubs remain firm in their support. The London Lions argue that blocking British teams from competing in Europe undermines national basketball development and the right to pursue sporting excellence on the international stage.
