ELPA and Euroleague clubs reach a settlement agreement
Agreement covers both hypothesis related to the outcome of the current season.
ELPA has reached a settlement agreement with EuroLeague clubs, which established a minimum financial obligations and guarantees for the rest of the 2019/20 season. The agreement is divided in two parts, one for the suspension and the other for the possible cancelation of the competition.
Whilst the competitions remain suspended:
– Players will be able to return to their home cities temporarily at their responsibility, recommending that players follow government and public health authorities’ guidelines
– Pending 2019-20 player salary payments are postponed
If the health and safety conditions necessary for all participants exist, the 2019-20 EuroLeague season will resume. If this is then completed:
– Player contracts for the 2019-20 season are extended until 31 July 2020
85% of player base salaries for the 2019-20 season will be paid by clubs, no later than 15 August 2020
If the 2019-20 EuroLeague season is canceled and not completed:
– Player contracts for the 2019-20 EuroLeague season are considered finished
– for multi-season player contracts, obligations for clubs and players will resume as of 1 July 2020
– 80% of player base salaries for the 2019-20 season will be paid by clubs no later than 15 August 2020
"ELPA members showed big unity in these negotiations and gave an example on how players’ association should be functioning. I would like to thank everybody for their time and effort, as well as the clubs for hearing players’ voice. As players we realize this is a difficult time for sports and business in general. I am proud that we could find an agreement for the good of players, clubs and EuroLeague. This agreement is a precedent in European basketball, because it showcased a good cooperation between clubs and players not only on domestic, but also on international level."
– Gigi Datome, President of ELPA.
"With this agreement we were ble to eliminate many salary related issues for players, which they could encounter during the suspension or cancellation of the season. Since the first day of the negotiation it was clear to me that in this current situation, it will not be about winners or losers, but about finding common ground on making a fair deal for players, while allowing clubs to recover financially. I appreciate club’s cooperation during this process. Now our focus will shift towards gathering and providing any relevant information and helping to establish standards and protocols, which will be needed in order to continue this season or/and start the next one. Players health must remain a priority."
– Boki Nachbar, Managing Director of ELPA.