B.B.F. might appeal FIBA decision
The decision to appeal Haas’ judgment has to come from the Belize Basketball Federation. That is the only point bouncing in the mind of B.B.F. president Paul Thompson. The ruling never discussed the eligibility of the basketball team in the COCABA games in Cancun. So the B.B.F. is not sure whether or not the team can continue to move on to the next Olympic qualifier with a new set of players. Thompson says the decisions to move on to the Court of Arbitration in Switzerland will have to be weighed carefully.
Paul Thompson, President, B.B.F.
“At the B.B.F. we are very extremely disappointed with the decision made from the Tribunal that our appeal was denied. The next step for us is to look at the option of taking an appeal to the court of arbitration of sports in Switzerland.”
Jose Sanchez
“With the finances of the BBF, would you be needing help maybe from Central Government to go to that next level?”
Paul Thompson
“Well, actually that’s why we have to look at that option. We have to find out what it entails to take an appeal to this court and that obviously has cost implications so we have to look at that to find out what those costs would be and how we would raise those funds.”
Jose Sanchez
“The proceedings themselves just addressed the players but it never addressed whether or not Belize keeps silver, Belize can move on. Do you know as yet where we stand?”
Paul Thompson
“The appeal, the tribunal that we went to the last three weeks ago never touched on whether or not we qualify for the next round. That tribunal only was about whether or not the players were eligible or ineligible. I believe that the process has to go through for that decision to be made.”
Jose Sanchez
“But the country does want this thing to continue as far as it can so do you see yourself going in the direction of heading to the next stage, the tribunal?”
Paul Thompson
“We will do the best to do whatever it takes to take this to the furthest point that we can so that we get the results that are favorable to us.”
