Kosovo basketball players denied entry to BiH, KS BiH expects severe punishment due to political interference

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The European Championship B Division for basketball players under 16 begins today in Sarajevo, and the tournament organizer KS BiH will likely suffer another embarrassment due to politics.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is scheduled to play against Kosovo on Friday at 18:45, but the basketball players of the Kosovo national team have not been granted visas to enter our country.

Following news that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) threatened sanctions against the Basketball Federation of BiH because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH refused to issue visas to Kosovo cadets, the minister himself responded.

- That is not true. This request was received on Wednesday, which is very late considering the championship starts on Thursday. The deadline for a response is three days, but the information that the request was rejected is not accurate. We sent an inquiry to the Basketball Federation of BiH this morning and have not received a response as to whether the Management Board of KS BiH stands behind this competition. After that, we can make a decision, given that out of 24 participating countries, Kosovo is the only one that BiH has not recognized - said Minister Igor Crnadak.

- I repeat, BiH has not recognized Kosovo, and as far as that is concerned, there will be no changes as long as this structure of government from the Republika Srpska is in institutions in Sarajevo. However, it is not true that we refused to issue visas because this request is still in procedure. We will make a decision when we receive information from the Management Board of the Basketball Federation of BiH as to whether the entire Management Board, including representatives from RS, stands behind this tournament - Crnadak explained.

KS BiH will certainly be punished, it is only a matter of how, because FIBA, the world basketball federation, strictly prohibits political interference in sports.