BSL players’ strike postpones games

The players union announced strike last week, claiming that league is unwilling to down-scale number of foreign players.

By ALLON SINAI
IBA Chairman Avner Kopel 311 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
IBA Chairman Avner Kopel 311
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Week 22 of the BSL’s regular season will not be played on Sunday after the league and the Israeli players union failed to reach an agreement over the weekend regarding the number of foreigners on each team.
The players union announced a strike last week, claiming that the league is unwilling to down-scale the number of foreign players allowed both on each roster and on the floor at any given time during a game.
At the start of this season, each team was permitted to choose to register either four or six foreigners to a game.
Hapoel Gilboa/Galil and Maccabi Tel Aviv were the only two teams which decided to register six foreigners and in doing so agreed to have at least two Israeli players on the floor at any given point in a game.
The BSL announced after a meeting on Friday that it had made its final offer to the players, labeling it as a “revolutionary” plan to promote the local player.
The league offered that every team will be required to play with two Israelis at all times and will only be allowed to register a maximum of five foreigners.
The BSL also said that it will compel all teams to have at least three Israeli players under the age of 22 on their rosters, with the agreement to be enforced over the next five seasons.
However, the players union is demanding that teams will only be allowed to register four foreigners to a game over the next three years, and just three non-Israeli players in the two years after that.
“The players have unanimously decided on a plan which will result in a majority of Israelis on court,” said union chairman Nir Alon.
“We have made several compromises, but we are united and will not play until an agreement is reached.”