Basketball clubs are facing many problems

It was a week of serious incidents and numerous developments for Kosovo's basketball clubs.

Two people have been arrested for attempted assault, while the person who hit KB Baksimi's assistant coach, Bledar Gjeqaj, in the face during the Super League match between KB Vëllaznimi and KB Baksimi, held on Wednesday at the "Shani Nushi" gym in Gjakova, has also been identified.

Last Thursday, at the "Sezai Surroi" gym in Prizren, during the Bashkimi - Peja match, KB Peja basketball player Dardan Berisha was hit, resulting in a split eyebrow.

Bashkimi was punished by the Kosovo Basketball Federation with a hefty fine and three home games with a limited number of spectators, due to the incident that occurred on Thursday.

Following the incident in Gjakova, the Federation on Thursday issued a statement, describing the situation as alarming and warning of zero tolerance for violence in gyms. FBK announced that the host club will be punished for poor organization of the match, while severe disciplinary measures will be taken against it in accordance with the regulations in force.

"The Federation warns that the repetition of incidents of this nature will bring even more drastic measures, including the closure of gyms, the holding of matches without an audience, the forfeiture of matches with an official result and the referral of cases to competent institutions. Basketball will not tolerate violence."

"The Basketball Federation of Kosovo will act with full determination to protect the safety, integrity and dignity of its competitions," the FBK's response reads.

On Wednesday, there were also developments at the club with the most trophies in the country, Sigal Prishtina.

The election of Bekë Berisha as president of the Prishtina National Football Club was met with numerous reactions. The most severe in their reaction were the “Plisat” fan group. A member of “Plisat” voted against. A delegate of the club also voted against, while another abstained. 

"Plisat" have assessed Berisha's election as mayor as "a shameful event in the history of sports in the capital."
According to them, the Assembly to elect the new club president will be canceled, as according to "Plisave", it is illegal.

On Monday, the FBK issued a notice regarding non-compliance with the rules, namely the law prohibiting the consumption of tobacco and alcoholic beverages in gyms.

A day after this announcement, namely on Tuesday, the Peja team announced that it had withdrawn from the away match against Olomouc, which belonged to the international league, ENBL. This match was supposed to be played on Tuesday at 18:00, but the Peja team did not travel to the Czech Republic at all.

Giving up international league matches is not a common practice. But Peja decided to do this, although it voluntarily joined the “European North Basketball League”. 

In addition to the incidents, this edition has also seen a significant drop in viewership, which is considered worrying. But the competition on the court is as strong as ever. 

There have been numerous incidents and developments in the sport of basketball almost every year. Other developments are expected in basketball clubs.