Super League Basketball (SLB) says it has begun legal action against the British Basketball Federation (BBF), accusing the governing body of abusing its position and breaching UK competition law.
The SLB says it is being undermined by the BBF’s decision to refuse to issue governing body endorsements (GBEs) – a requirement for any club wanting to sign an overseas player requiring a visa – unless it accepts a one-year deal to keep operating.
The SLB says that decision is designed to put its clubs at a “competitive disadvantage to any rival league favoured by BBF” and could be in breach of the UK Government’s code of practice for sports governing bodies.
The organisations had been in dispute over the BBF’s decision to terminate an interim deal with the SLB and instead agree a 15-year deal with GBB League Ltd (GBBL) to run the men’s professional league from the 2026-27 season.
SLB says the BBF has since acknowledged that it does not need a licence to operate and just needs to be recognised as a league.
It added that it has no issue with another league being given a UK licence, but wants to operate “free from unlawful harm”.
SLB was awarded an interim three-year licence last July to replace the British Basketball League, which collapsed amid financial concerns.
But in April the BBF agreed the deal with GBBL, saying that because SLB had elected not to bid for a long-term licence it activated a clause to terminate the interim agreement at the end of the 2024-25 season.
SLB disputed that view, saying it had withdrawn from the tender process after “concerns were raised over the legality of the BBF’s actions” and that its nine clubs would refuse to join.
Super League Basketball (SLB) says it has begun legal action against the British Basketball Federation (BBF), accusing the governing body of abusing its position and breaching UK competition law.
The SLB says it is being undermined by the BBF’s decision to refuse to issue governing body endorsements (GBEs) – a requirement for any club wanting to sign an overseas player requiring a visa – unless it accepts a one-year deal to keep operating.
The SLB says that decision is designed to put its clubs at a “competitive disadvantage to any rival league favoured by BBF” and could be in breach of the UK Government’s code of practice for sports governing bodies.
The organisations had been in dispute over the BBF’s decision to terminate an interim deal with the SLB and instead agree a 15-year deal with GBB League Ltd (GBBL) to run the men’s professional league from the 2026-27 season.
SLB says the BBF has since acknowledged that it does not need a licence to operate and just needs to be recognised as a league.
It added that it has no issue with another league being given a UK licence, but wants to operate “free from unlawful harm”.
SLB was awarded an interim three-year licence last July to replace the British Basketball League, which collapsed amid financial concerns.
But in April the BBF agreed the deal with GBBL, saying that because SLB had elected not to bid for a long-term licence it activated a clause to terminate the interim agreement at the end of the 2024-25 season.
SLB disputed that view, saying it had withdrawn from the tender process after “concerns were raised over the legality of the BBF’s actions” and that its nine clubs would refuse to join.
Dame Deborah James’ widower recently went public with his new romance, and it appears there could have been love in the air for a while. Sebastian Bowen had been alongside Dame Deborah throughout her tragic, incurable bowel cancer, and despite the heartache he faced, he was given strict instructions from her.
Prior to her death, the broadcaster revealed she wanted Sebastian to “move on” and find love again, when he was ready, stating he was a “very eligible bachelor.” Sebastian now appears to be head over heels in love with his new girlfriend, whose identity he has kept under wraps.
The loved-up couple were seen out and about in Hammersmith, west London, and dined at the River Cafe during their romantic day out. As the nation basked under the scorching weather, the UK enjoyed a heatwave. Sebastian opted for a more casual look, rocking a blue casual shirt, leaving his top buttons undone, with a pair of chinos and trainers.
His girlfriend exuded glamour in an eye-catching red dress, which cut off above the knee as she lapped up the sun. As they went about their day, the pair looked smitten, with Sebastian and his girlfriend wrapping their arms around one another.
They walked around holding hands and were all smiles as they soaked up the sun. Now, leading body language expert Judi James has revealed that Sebastian and his new girlfriend may have been friends before things developed romantically.
“One of the key words that stands out from their body language together is ‘relaxed’,” Judi told the Mirror. She went on to add: They appear lacking in any signs of tension or anxiety, suggesting they make each other happy.
“There’s no clinging or neediness here: the hand clasp shows the fingers are meshed, but the clasp itself is relaxed and quite loose. Their smiles have an element of coyness, but they are twinned smiles and appear authentic rather than the kind of social, more effortful smiles you often see when people are trying to impress each other on a first date.”
Judi went on to say: “Their body language looks synchronised too, with lots of mirroring to suggest like-minded thinking. This looks like a very even-handed relationships in terms of emotions, intellect and levels of confidence, suggesting strong friendship that might have been established before anything more romantic.”
Meanwhile, a source has since spoken about Sebastian’s relationship. “They looked like they were very much in love,” they told the Daily Mail. They went on to add: “It was very sweet. For anyone who was inspired by Dame Deborah’s attitude to life, it was really heartening to see her husband looking happy again.”
Sebastian has previously enjoyed a string of dates as per his late wife’s wishes, but he had been taking things “very slowly.” Speaking on the BBC Radio 5 Live show, You, Me And The Big C, she described her widower as a “very eligible bachelor” and knew he would have attention from other women following her death.
“I have given him strict instructions,” Dame Deborah said. She went on to add: “I want him to move on. He’s a handsome man, I’m like, ‘Don’t be taken for a ride, don’t marry a bimbo, find someone else who can make you laugh like we did.” But she also joked that she had a list of people she didn’t want Sebastian to date.
“I would do my damned hardest to haunt him,” she joked. Sebastian also has the blessing from Deborah’s family to find love again, with her mum saying in 2023: “Deborah will be a hard act to follow but he has our blessing.”