Heads of clubs in the second league are worried that the court will cancel the decision to end the season and some are considering coming up with youth players: "It could jeopardize the future of the teams" • The National Administration cannot financially assist as in the Premier League

• National groups fear for the future

  Photo: 

  Alan Shaver

The Supreme Court of the Basketball Association is scheduled to give its answer tomorrow regarding Hapoel Afula's petition against the union's decision of March to end the 2019/20 season in the National League.

The "Israel Today" test shows that almost all teams in the second league are strongly opposed to the league's return to activity. The chairman of one of the teams makes it clear: "The return of the league will result in the economic collapse of some of the groups."

All the clubs have already returned the flats and vehicles of foreign and national players and now buy airline tickets, rent new apartments and new vehicles will cost a lot of money for the teams. "I will not jeopardize the future of my team," says another chairman. "If they make a decision to come back I will come up with youth players, I have nothing to lose." 

The Premier League Administration has secured NIS 550,000 for each team to fund the return to activity, including an immediate transfer of NIS 200,000 to initiate the move, but the National League Administration has no financial option to assist groups if a return is decided.

It should be noted that most of the top European leagues have not returned to activity yet, certainly not those who have already announced the end of the season. Germany and Spain, too, may soon announce a return to the first league and not the second.