The president of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), Jorge Garbajosa, stated this morning in Córdoba that “at this time, Spain-Ukraine is being played”, in allusion to the match of the qualifying phase for the 2023 World Cup set for 8:45 p.m. at the Palacio Vista Alegre in the Andalusian city.
The former professional player spoke to journalists at the reopening of the Andalusian Basketball Federation headquarters in Córdoba and clarified that, for the time being, the national team match will be played, although everything can be altered with the passing of the hours.
“The game is going to be played right now, we are in very close contact with FIBA and the Ukrainian Federation and right now it is going to be played. The notification we have from the International Federation is that it is played,” explained the leader.
In fact, Jorge Garbajosa stressed that “the situation may change in the next few hours”, although the intention of the Ukrainian players is to play the game.
He also recalled that they have long asked not to play Sunday’s game in Kiev – which was finally postponed– and expressed their concern about some events that “unfortunately” have proved them right and said that they offered the Ukrainians “all the possibilities”, among which they cited playing the two games in Córdoba, doing the second behind closed doors or give them the amount of the tickets “so that they see that we have no interest”, although they finally opted for it to be played in the Ukrainian capital in July, something that the FEB “absolutely” respects.
Finally, expressed all his support for the players and coaches of his next rival “because seeing the situation in his country gives you goosebumps, you empathize with the situation that their families are experiencing there and it’s a horror” and he put his ” entire disposition” offering them all the collaboration they need after the gamein case they need to stay, they need to stay in Spain.