French champion AS Monaco has not been granted admission to the first and second professional basketball leagues due to its financial difficulties. This decision was made by the financial oversight body of the Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB).
The reasons cited were the lack of sufficient guarantees “regarding the club’s financial viability for the upcoming season,” as well as the status of the takeover process.
Monaco, the former team of German World and European champion Daniel Theis, had just won its third championship on June 23. The previous year, the club had lost the EuroLeague final to Fenerbahçe Istanbul. Theis, whose departure was announced earlier this week, is set to join ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne. Other key players, including Mike James and Matthew Strazel, have also already left the club.
AS had recently received a loan from the Monegasque government to stay afloat, but was required to repay all funds by June 30. On June 19, a court-appointed administrator stated that, as things stand, the club does not appear to be in a position to settle its debts. According to media reports, these debts amount to 25 million euros. A new hearing is scheduled for July 10.
EU sanctions against Monaco’s owner as the trigger
The club from the Principality is expected to appeal this decision to the appeals committee of the French Basketball Federation. Monaco had already been replaced by Besiktas Istanbul for the 2026–27 EuroLeague season and relegated to the second-tier EuroCup. It remains unclear what impact the national exclusion will have on Monaco’s international participation.
Monaco has been in deep financial trouble for months. In addition to missed or delayed salary payments to players, the club also failed to pay social security contributions for several months. The lack of liquidity stems from EU sanctions against owner and president Alekszej Fedoricsev, who declined to sell the team.