Basketball: Heurtel condemns double talk from federation over his signing in Russia
Thomas Heurtel, who cannot be selected for the French basketball team since he officially joins Zenit St-Petersburg in the autumn of 2022, condemned on Thursday the double debate held on the subject by the leaders of the French basketball federation.
The leader is ineligible for the Blues, as he went against the oath he signed in the summer of 2022, as did other players selected for the Euros a few weeks later, in which he took part, after invading Ukraine. Join a Russian or Belarusian club.
However, according to Heurtel, the president of the federation, Jean-Pierre Ciutat, the coach of the French team, Vincent Collet and the general manager, Boris Diaw, already knew the Euro, which he played, , Zenith about his signature.
“Of course they know. Of course the charter was bogus. That’s why it has to be torn up. Everyone knew it.”Announced Heurtel on “The Squeak Show by Tony Parker,” which will air on the Squeak platform on Fridays.
With Heurtel as holder, France won the silver medal at the Euros in September 2022. A few days later, his signing was made official in Saint Petersburg, after which the French federation announced his exclusion from the Blues.
While captain Nicolas Batum has campaigned for his return after the 2023 World Cup fiasco, where the Blues showed deficiencies in the leading positions, Heurtel “hope to be” At the Paris Olympic Games. “I spoke to Boris about it (lamp)Vincent (collar)… They say that if I have a contract with St. Petersburg next season, it is impossible for me to make the Olympics. I have to sign (elsewhere) Before group announcement » Retained in mid-May, Heurtel said. This is the message sent by the sports minister to the federationThe player added, under contract with Zenit until the summer of 2025 but who has an exit clause in 2024.
Amelie Aude-Castera revealed in late August that she was not “No Way” To question the rules made by the federation regarding athletes playing in Russia. Huertel also said he was ready “Return to Europe (in 2024) With less pay » than it currently does in St. Petersburg.
