Basketball Ireland has announced it has cancelled the 2020/21 Super League and Division One league season.
The decisions follows a meeting of its national league committee on Saturday morning to consider the most recent Covid-19 guidelines from the Irish government.
No decision has been made over the 2020/21 Men’s National Cup.
The decision is a major setback to all the clubs, including EJ Sligo All-Stars, who had been working hard to make a major promotion push in Division 1 of the national league this coming season.
Basketball Ireland says it is extremely disappointed that its case for commencement of play in the National Leagues on January 9th behind closed doors, with extra rigorous testing in place, has not been considered properly.
In a statement issued after Saturday’s decision, the sport’s governing body expressed its unhappiness that Ireland was unable to follow the example of several national basketball leagues across Europe which are taking place throughout Europe with the agreement of the government and heath authorities in those countries.
Basketball Ireland CEO Bernard O’Byrne, said: “Basketball Ireland has been lobbying government, but still have been ignored. It shall not stop fighting for recognition and answers from government. The MNCC feel that certainty is needed and we cannot keep our clubs, players, officials and volunteers waiting. We would have loved to start our season on January 9th, but we’ve been left with no choice. Basketball Ireland has been doing its utmost to help our clubs during these difficult times and it shall continue to do so.“
Basketball Ireland hopes that a competition of some sort may be possible in February/March of 2021.
