Incarnates would have to compete in the qualifying stage and not understand why

Benfica set up an exhibition in the Portuguese Basketball Federation (FPB) so that it could mediate with FIBA ​​in order to understand the criteria that drove the red flag to compete in the qualifying phase of the UEFA Champions League (BCL), instead of directly reaching the group stage of the third European club competition ( It is the main tournament in FIBA, behind the Euroleague and Eurocup)

“The confirmation of the BCL squads leaves us with a bitter taste. It’s something we don’t understand and it seems a bit unfair. The 28 teams with direct access to the group stage are selected through an arrangement, and that process should be straightforward and without artifice. It’s true that we are in the year The past only contributed to the clubs standings, but nevertheless we achieved great results that brought us very close to direct access,” said Joao Nuno Crespo, team manager, to the website of the Eagles.

For the Benfica official, the direct entry of King Szczecin needs clarification: “It is not logical that a Polish team that has never participated in the top flight of football has direct access and is in a much lower rank than Benfica, while the country is not in The future We have already made a presentation to the federation, trying to understand what the standards are and why this happened. We do not know if it is possible to reverse it. It is difficult for us that the BCL has made this decision, not least because the Benfica brand is known all over the world I don’t think any organization can exclude the Benfica brand.”

Last season, Benfica made it past the playoffs and then made its feat of overcoming the difficult group stage (it was in second place), after falling later in the play-offs to reach the second stage of the competition, against the Turkish side of Darüssafaka. But as happened in 2022/23, the country’s champion will have to start in the qualifying rounds, where 24 teams will be in contention to reach the group stage, which will collect 32 pennants.

The drawing is scheduled for July 5th. Benfica will start arguing about the qualification phase between September 25 and October 1. The main stage will then begin on October 17th. FIBA revealed that it had received 63 applications, with 28 countries making the final selection.

According to the log