The governing body for basketball in Great Britain has collapsed, entering liquidation after a severe financial crisis. The British Basketball Federation (BBF) announced the decision on Friday, 14 November 2025, throwing the future of the national teams into doubt.
Financial Downfall and Immediate Aftermath
In an official statement released on Friday night, the BBF declared it had ceased trading. The federation attributed this drastic step to a significant and unanticipated reduction in income combined with unforeseen expenditure. This financial perfect storm left the organisation unable to meet its liabilities as they became due.
The announcement comes just one month after the body was rocked by a major suspension. In October, FIBA, basketball's international governing body, suspended Britain's men's team from international competitions. Simultaneously, the BBF's authority to license or recognise national men's competitions was revoked. A FIBA task force cited persistent governance issues as the reason for this punitive action.
Legal Challenges and Stakeholder Reactions
The BBF's final months were marked by internal conflict. The decision to award a licence for a new professional competition to GBB League Ltd (GBBL) prompted nine Super League Basketball (SLB) clubs to launch legal action against the federation, further destabilising its position.
In response to the liquidation, the home nations' bodies—Basketball England, Basketball Scotland, and Basketball Wales—issued a joint statement. They affirmed their commitment to collaborating with FIBA and each other to maintain Great Britain's participation in upcoming FIBA competitions.
Searching for a Sustainable Future
The collapse has sent shockwaves through the UK's sporting landscape. A spokesperson for UK Sport admitted the liquidation would create uncertainty for the sport in the UK. They were quick to clarify that their investment has been focused on the 3x3 basketball programme and is unconnected to the issues surrounding the domestic club competition.
The spokesperson added, We have taken robust steps throughout this period of uncertainty to safeguard public funds and to help enable GB teams to continue to compete. They confirmed that UK Sport will now work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the wider basketball community to establish a viable path forward.
Despite its dissolution, the BBF's final statement expressed appreciation for the ongoing commitment of the UK Government, UK Sport, and FIBA. The immediate priority for all parties is to ensure the stability and security of the Great Britain national teams and fulfil participation commitments in international competitions, a daunting task now facing a sport without its central governing body.
