Lhe point guard Thomas Heurtel, silver medalist with the French team at Eurobasket 2022, has signed up for two seasons with the Zénith Saint-Petersburg, in Russia, which will prevent him from being selected with the Bleus and jeopardizes his chances of competing in the 2023 World Cup, or even the 2024 Olympic Games. In early August, the French Basketball Federation had indeed warned that French players engaged in Russian or Belarusian clubs would not be “no longer selectable” until the end of the war in Ukraine.
“The players and staff of the French teams will no longer be selectable if they sign a contract with a Russian or Belarusian club, as long as the conflict (in Ukraine, editor’s note) is ongoing”, explained the FFBB in a press release. Announced close to Zénith Saint-Petersburg before the Euro, Thomas Heurtel, 33, had signed, like all the players of the France team, a certificate on honor by committing not to play for a Russian club or Belarusian.
Three days after the end of the Euro, where the French lost in the final against Spain (88-76), the former FC Barcelona and Real Madrid player finally decided to join the Russian team. Asked by Agence France-Presse, the French Basketball Federation has so far not reacted to the decision of the leader, who has signed up for “one year and an optional year”, announced the Zenith on its website.
Russian clubs and the national team excluded from competitions
“We want to welcome Thomas to our team. He is a high quality and experienced player. We believe he will help us achieve our goals for this season,” said Zenit’s Spanish coach Xavi Pascual, as quoted by the club.
The question of the selection in the France team of players playing with Russian or Belarusian clubs had emerged this summer after the signing of French internationals, Livio Jean-Charles (four selections) at CSKA Moscow and Louis Labeyrie (33 selections) in Kazan.
This season, Russian and Belarusian clubs cannot participate in the Euroleague, the most prestigious European competition between clubs, as since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. Russia was also excluded from Eurobasket, which took place from 1er to September 18 in Germany, Italy, Georgia and the Czech Republic.