This is not the first between the RFB and independent organization of clubs “VTB United League” the agreement on the fact that the Federation delegates to the League the right to host the championship of Russia among men’s teams in the top division. The tournaments in the second and third divisions (super League 1 and super League 2, respectively) are directly under the auspices of the RSE.
United League is an international tournament. From the final classification of each season by the “paper” exclusion of foreign teams purely Russian rating. Everything was always very simple and transparent. However, last already season 2019/20, forced, because of the epidemic of the coronavirus COVID-19, the early end of the season created a triumvirate of lawyers of the League, the League and sport a special precedent. In fact, a dead end. Exit with the definition of the champion and winners of the find was not possible. And it’s not even a sport, but purely a legal conflict.
In the United League 2019/20 were 13 teams – 9 Russian and 4 foreign (from Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, and Kazakhstan). According to the original calendar, after a two-round tournament of the regular season (matches home and away, each member holds 24 games) was scheduled for the playoffs starting with the quarterfinals.
the Last before the early termination of the championship of United League match was played on March 12. Estonian Kalev at home in Tallinn without spectators lost our team “Lokomotiv-Kuban” (Krasnodar) – 81:98. After this discussion, the key figures of the tournament table is as follows: clubs held from 18 to 20 matches, unconditional leadership of the people at BC Khimki (18 wins – 1 loss), the nearest pursuer – CSKA (15-4). Then with roughly equal chances of third place in the regular season was “the locomotive-Kuban” (14-6) and UNICS Kazan (12-6).
theoretically, but obviously not in practice, the army team for the five remaining playoff meetings could and catch up with BC “Khimki”, and even to get ahead. That rivals major competitors in the unplayed matches. Khimki: CSKA (away), Perm “Parma” (g), Zenit St Petersburg (home), Polish “Zielona Gora” (d), “Lokomotiv-Kuban” (g). CSKA, “Khimki” (d), “Zielona góra” (d), Krasnoyarsk “Yenisei” (d), UNICS Kazan (d), Saratov “Avtodor” (g).
For reference note, that in the championship “Khimki” lost only “the locomotive-Kuban” (89:94 home) and CSKA has suffered the defeat from UNICS in Kazan (86:94), and from the outsider of the Euroleague “Zenith” on the platform (79:82), and from the intermediate not even getting into the playoffs of the League “Enisey” on the Siberian land (71:80). And, most importantly, the army lost to the suburban club – crushing 80:96 “Arena Mytischi” 6 January 2020 sellout (6877 spectators). The last digit is the second score of the season in attendance. The record in games in Krasnodar “Lokomotiv-Kuban” – CSKA on March 9 (71:77) – 7304 fan.
Again, in theory and with a small probability, at the end of the regular season could have fixed this situation in which “Khimki” and CSKA would have the same number of wins. Then for the distribution of seats, according to the official rules of the International basketball Federation, would have to look at the results of face-to-face meetings. As mentioned above, January 6, Khimki crushed at home to CSKA with a significant difference in 16 points (96:80), and the gap reached 20 “points” (93:73 in the 39th minute after accurate free throws in the performance of the Serb Stefan Jovic).
the second round Match CSKA – “Khimki” according to the original calendar was to be held on 16 March in Moscow. Alas, this battle was not to be.
From all these facts is as objective picture. If the regular season finished, “Khimki” probably would have won first place, and CSKA – the second. Alleged the playoffs is another story. Sports compares favorably with the art of cinema and theatre it is the fact that any viewer of the play or the film looks at the action with a sense of predetermination of outcome depending on when the written script, but in each individual match is totally unpredictable.
the Whole situation with the pandemic, with the early end of the Championships, with unequal number of games was very uncertain. We could not make the decision, not previously discussed this issue with everyone. VTB United League gave us his classification without determining the champion, and then we appealed to the Ministry of sport received a clear answer, – quotes words of the head of the League, Andrei Kirilenko, RIA Novosti. The Executive Committee of the Federation approved a classification in which the champion is not determined, as there is no criterion by which we can determine this champion. I note that the men’s champion is not defined in any of the divisions of the championship of Russia.
With the parallel partner for the RFB legal nuances professionally explained the Director-General of the League, multiple European champion in the Russian national team of Ilona Korstin, which in accordance with its status as a member of the Federation Executive Committee: “the Executive Committee of the RBF approved the current classification of Russian teams in VTB United League on the date of the last played match without the title of “champion” and without determining the winners. The decision was taken unanimously. We focused on the recommendations of the Ministry of sports and the current classification without determining the champion was adopted not only in the championship of Russia, but in the other men’s professional leagues, including the Junior League of VTB. The regulations did not foresee such an extraordinary situation and all scenarios, because of this disagreement. Now, with the changes clearly stated that United League determines the order of revelation of winners and prize-winners of the championship of Russia, and also summarizes their results. In the future, the Executive Committee of the RBF provided claims data,”
“Khimki” played his best in the last years season. Of course, it is a pity that all the efforts and victory led only to a purely technical classification, and out of place on the top step of the podium or to the medals and diplomas, titles in the references. However, the General Director of BC Khimki Pavel Astakhov, has repeatedly been the case as the player in the most incredible basketball debacles (once in the form of a Dynamo together with the current coach of Lokomotiv Evgeny Pashutin fought against three Greeks in the Euro Cup), calmly and with dignity, appreciated the decision of the Executive Committee of the RBF.
– there’s no intrigue was not. The RBF gave the right to host the championship United League, therefore it determines a champion or not. All the clubs of the League voted for the end of the season determine the champion and prize-winners. We accept this decision. Will try to be better and stronger to win the title of champion of Russia at the end of the next full season, – quotes Astakhov RIA Novosti.
Classification in the championship of Russia-2019/20 among men’s teams
(without determination of the winners)
United League (D-1)
1. “Khimki” (Moscow region). 2. CSKA (Moscow). 3. “Lokomotiv-Kuban” (Krasnodar). 4. UNICS (Kazan). 5. “Zenit” (St. Petersburg). 6. PARMA (Perm Krai). 7. “Yenisei” (Krasnoyarsk Krai). 8. “Nizhny Novgorod” (Nizhny Novgorod). 9. Avtodor (Saratov).
Superliga 1 (D-2)
1 (10 – a place in the General classification). “Spartak-Primorye” (Primorsky Krai). 2 (11). “Samara” (Samara). 3 (12). “Petrel” (Yaroslavl). 4 (13). “Uralmash” (Ekaterinburg). 5 (14). “Temp-SUMZ-UMMC” (Revda). 6 (15). “Vostok-65” (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk). 7 (16). “The Dome Springs” (Izhevsk). 8 (17). IBA (Moscow). 9 (18). “University-Yugra” (Surgut). 10 (19). “Rune-Basket” (Moscow). 11 (20). “Utimes” (Ufa). 12 (21). CSKA-2 (Moscow). 13 (22). “Ural” (Ekaterinburg). 14 (23). “Khimki-Moscow suburbs” (Moscow region). 15 (24). “Spartak” (St.-Petersburg). 16 (25). “Novosibirsk” (Novosibirsk).
super League 2 (D-3)
1 (26). “Cheboksary Hawks” (Cheboksary). 2 (27). “Tambov” (Tambov oblast). 3 (28). “Dynamo” (Magnitogorsk). 4 (29). “Irkut” (Irkutsk). 5 (30). “The Dynamo-MGTU” (Maikop). 6 (31). “Dynamo” (Stavropol). 7 (32). “Altibase” (Altai Krai). 8 (33). “Zenit-2” (St.-Petersburg). 9 (34). “Neftekhimik” (Tobolsk). 10 (35). BARS-Rostov state University (Rostov-on-don). 11 (36). “Rusichi” (Kursk). 12 (37). “Lokomotiv-Kuban-WOP” (Krasnodar). 13 (38). “Elbrus” (Cherkessk).
