AS Monaco relegated to French third division amid financial crisis

AS Monaco Basket, the reigning French basketball champion, has been officially excluded from professional French leagues due to financial instability. Following the refusal of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) and the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) to reconsider the case, the club faces relegation to Nationale 1, the third tier of French basketball.

The crisis stems from the frozen assets of majority shareholder Alexei Fedorychev following the war in Ukraine, which led to unpaid debts and a collapsed financial structure. Despite recent efforts to stabilize the budget and secure new industrial investment, the club remains barred from Betclic ÉLITE and ÉLITE 2.

In response to the relegation, the club is reportedly considering joining the ABA League to preserve its European competition status, as playing in the French third division would jeopardize its EuroCup license. Head coach Manuchar Markojšvili expressed deep disappointment, stating that the club did not deserve such an outcome after its recent domestic and continental successes.