Super League Basketball files legal notice against British Basketball
Super League Basketball (SLB) has served the British Basketball Federation (BBF) with a pre-legal action notice regarding the awarding of the operating license for the men’s professional basketball league to a US consortium.
SLB, which operates the UK’s top-flight basketball league, claims the BBF’s decision violates UK law.
SLB, owned by the league’s nine participating clubs, was granted an interim license to operate the competition for three seasons following the collapse of the former British Basketball League and its investors, 777 Partners. However, earlier this year the BBF opted to grant the long-term license to a consortium led by former EuroLeague Basketball CEO Marshall Glickman, effective from the 2025-26 season.
The consortium, which includes Chris Dillavou and Arjun Metre, is now in an exclusive negotiating period to finalise the license terms with the BBF.
The decision has faced backlash from SLB’s member clubs, who argue that they were not consulted and that the BBF’s licensing process breaches both UK competition law and regulations set by FIBA, the global governing body for basketball.
A SLB spokesperson said, “It is regrettable that we have been forced to take this course of action, but after months of engagement with the BBF, our repeated efforts to seek clarity and resolution through the appropriate channels have been ignored.
“Having been excluded from a process that directly impacts the future of the sport, despite being described as key stakeholders, the SLB continues to have serious concerns about the legality and transparency of the BBF’s approach, which we believe undermines both the integrity of the sport and the interests of players, fans, and communities across the country.“
Additionally Vaughn Millette, the former chair of SLB and owner of the Sheffield Sharks franchise, resigned in March following a refereeing scandal that led to accusations of racism and a subsequent strike by officials, resulting in canceled fixtures.
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