FIBA lifts individual bans: Russian basketball still awaits progress for teams

FIBA has just lifted the ban on Russian athletes, coaches and referees in individual competitions. The new document says nothing about national teams, which is why Russian basketball officials only dare to call this a positive signal. In a statement carried by Russian media, a leader of the Russian Basketball Federation said she was glad that some restrictions had been removed, but it was hard to hope that teams would return to the EuroLeague soon. Looking back at the process since 2026, Russian basketball was almost completely frozen at the international level. National team members were not allowed to compete in World Cup qualifiers, referees were not allowed to officiate matches under the FIBA system, and top clubs such as CSKA Moscow, UNICS Kazan and Zenit Saint Petersburg were excluded from European cup competitions. The fact that certain individuals were allowed to return is the first systematic change, but it still lies on the edge of the bigger picture. This latest FIBA decision is seen by sports law experts as selective. It allows Russian referees and coaches to be invited to officiate at FIBA-sanctioned games, provided they meet professional standards. This opens up opportunities for individuals living abroad or working for other member federations. But for national teams, there is still no roadmap. The Russian men's team, which once played at the World Cup, and the Russian women's team, which won Olympic medals, still have to wait for further decisions from FIBA headquarters in Switzerland. In Southeast Asian basketball analyst circles, this move is often misunderstood. Many fans believe Russia is about to return to all competitions, while in reality it is only a paperwork story for individuals. National teams still cannot schedule friendlies, cannot take part in qualifiers, cannot submit player lists for the European Championship. The key issue is that FIBA has not yet recognized the Russian Basketball Federation as a full returning participant in the competition system. The Russian basketball leader admitted that when speaking to the media. She said: “Any positive movement of this kind is good news, but we cannot say that we are starting to pack our bags for the EuroLeague. Still, if some restrictions are removed, we are already very grateful.” Her cautious tone reflects the reality that Russian basketball is in a waiting phase, not a recovery phase. Notable is the view on politics. She stressed: “I think people are beginning to understand that sport must be outside politics, and that using political pressure to stop our athletes is wrong and unfair. There is a little hope that sports officials are beginning to realize this and are taking small steps.” This statement is not only aimed at FIBA but also sends a message to European sports federations, which still maintain bans on Russian teams and clubs. As the basketball world prepares for the 2027 World Cup, Russia's continued absence leaves a significant commercial gap. Tournament organizers have repeatedly considered the appeal of the Russian market, where there is a long basketball tradition and the VTB United League operates professionally. But the return decision does not rest solely with FIBA. Factors such as flight bans, insurance costs, visa procedures and airport security are still obstacles that make it difficult for Russian teams to travel smoothly to European or North American countries. From a tactical perspective, allowing Russian individuals to work again could help raise the quality of referees in the region. Russia has trained many experienced referees who are highly regarded in international tournaments. If they are assigned to matches in Asia or Europe, the level of game management may improve, while young referees from ASEAN will have more opportunities to learn in practice. This is an indirect benefit that not many analyses mention. However, optimism still needs to be tested by concrete action. The Russian basketball leader admitted the return process would be very slow: “There will be no quick comeback because there will be people who rebel if we do everything too suddenly. So moving step by step is reasonable. You cannot change everything at once. Overall, there is progress, but compared to the goal of playing in the EuroLeague, it is still very small.” This approach shows that Russian basketball does not want to rush things. Looking at other sports, Russian teams or clubs that tried to return too soon often faced strong backlash from international public opinion. Choosing a slow pace may give FIBA more time to gauge reactions from member federations, especially those with a hard-line stance. Russian basketball understands that a big political victory cannot come after a single closed-door document. For fans in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, this story is not too far away. Regional teams are becoming more integrated into the FIBA system, and if Russia returns, the number of strong Asian teams will increase, leading to denser schedules and more competition opportunities for the Vietnamese national team in the future. But that remains a distant prospect, because there are no official negotiations yet between FIBA and the Russian Basketball Federation regarding the lifting of the team ban. Another important factor involves sponsors and broadcasting rights. European competitions used to attract a large Russian audience, putting significant pressure on commercial partners. Several Asian broadcasters had to adjust their plans when matches involving Russian clubs disappeared. If teams and clubs are allowed back, broadcast packages will be restructured, but this cannot happen overnight. Therefore, the Russian basketball leader's statement should be understood as an exploratory signal rather than an announcement of a concrete plan. In the past, I closely followed CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague and noticed that their quality remains among the top in Europe. If this club returns soon, they will immediately become a major rival to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Anadolu Efes. Conversely, if the return process is further delayed, many Russian players may have retired or moved permanently to smaller leagues. That will weaken a generation of talent that Russia spent many years building. The question is how FIBA will respond in the coming months. Will they continue to ease restrictions by allowing Russian youth teams into regional tournaments, or will they stop at the individual level? Experience in other sports suggests that partial easing often lasts longer than expected. But whatever the outcome, this decision has broken an unwritten rule of the past few years: Russian sport is no longer completely isolated. When one small door opens, other doors become easier to open; it is only a matter of time. For the Russian basketball leader, her closing message seems well considered: “We believe the return should be gradual, and so a slow approach is probably correct. We have movement, but it is still very small in relation to our possible appearance at the EuroLeague.” Perhaps what she and her colleagues need most is not immediate return, but a clear roadmap to avoid living in limbo as they have for the past three years. Russian basketball will not disappear; they are simply waiting for the right moment to come back in their strongest form.