Controversy for the Belgian Lions: Despite their disagreement, the Belgians will end their meeting on Monday evening in Serbia

Published on 04/07/2022 at 12:52Reading time: 2 minutes

TheThe meeting was interrupted after 2 minutes and 6 seconds of play in the first quarter due to a “technical problem with lighting on the site” at the Cairo Sports Center in Nice. Belgium advanced 3-6 at the mark.

Belgian basketball announced on Monday that although the decision was not approved, the Lions will play the match. The International Basketball Federation justified its decision “in the name of the regularity of the competition and the organization of the second round of the 2023 World Cup, ignoring any sporting penalty for not organizing the host country,” confirms the Belgian Federation.

“Although the motive behind this unilateral decision is challenged but leaves no opportunity for appeal, the Belgian Basketball Association has taken a decision to align the Belgian Lions this evening taking into account the direct and indirect consequences that may result from the refusal to participate. The meeting” is still to be determined on her website.

It appears that the city of Nice experienced a blackout on Sunday evening, which explained the problem in the room where the meeting was being held.

The Belgian Lions (FIBA 37) have already confirmed their place in the second round of European qualifying, regardless of the outcome of the match against Serbia (FIVB 6). Belgium (8 points) occupies second place behind Latvia (11 points), ahead of Serbia (8 points), while Slovakia is eliminated (6 points).

The second round of these qualifiers in August (22-30), November (7-15) and February (20-28) will bring together the next 24 teams divided into four groups of six. The top two places will qualify for the World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10, 2023.

Belgium will be in Group A along with Latvia and Serbia, as well as the three teams from Group B: Greece, Turkey and Great Britain.

The Belgians will no longer face Latvia and Serbia, but will keep the results obtained in the first round against these two teams. So the match in Serbia is important for the second round. In the first leg, the Lions defeated Serbia, 73-69. But the Belgians were twice beaten by the Latvians.