Due to the weather conditions in northern Germany, Syntainics MBC submitted a request to the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) to postpone the game against EWE Baskets Oldenburg, but this was rejected and the club is now fighting back. The game is scheduled for Saturday (6:30 p.m./Dyn).
“Only under protest and contrary to its sense of responsibility towards its players, coaches, and trainers did Syntainics MBC set off at 1:30 p.m. on the 430-kilometer drive to Oldenburg,” the cup winner announced on Friday. 285 kilometers of the journey took them through an area “for which the German Weather Service had issued a red storm warning.”
Robert Wintermantel, Head of Sports & Finance at the BBL, announced by email that the request would not be granted. “In our opinion, the circumstances presented do not meet the criteria for force majeure,” the MBC quoted Wintermantel as saying.
According to the statement, the MBC then pointed out that the request had been made with the safety of spectators, players, referees, and other event participants in mind, but this also failed to persuade deputy game director Sascha Dieterich to reverse his decision. According to the MBC, Oldenburg had already rejected Weißenfels’ request to postpone the game that morning.
On Thursday, the match between Veolia Towers Hamburg and promoted VET-Concept Gladiators Trier, also scheduled for Saturday, was canceled. The arena on the Elbe island will remain closed until at least Tuesday as a precautionary measure due to the current snow load.