Following an irregularity in financial transparency, AS Monaco Basket was deprived of a victory in the ranking.
AS Monaco Basket, sanctioned in August with one victory less by the League (LNB) for failure to provide financial transparency and fairness, saw its sanction confirmed on appeal by the French Federation, the club indicated on Thursday to the AFP.
The sanction, pronounced at the end of August by the National Basketball League, concerned, according to a source close to the matter, an image rights contract concluded by the club with its American star Mike James. Contacted by AFP, Monaco claimed to be evaluating “possible scenarios for making other approaches to the CNOSF” over the next two weeks, thus confirming information published on Wednesday in several specialized media.
Due to the advantageous tax system of the Principality, the Rocher club pays to the LNB a “Luxury Tax», or luxury tax, proportional to its payroll, for the sake of fairness with other teams in the French championship. However, the image contract in question would make it possible to circumvent this regulation by artificially reducing the club’s payroll, and therefore the amount of the “Luxury Tax”.
Roca Ream received a fine of 20,000 euros, the firm withdrawal of a victory in the ranking for the current Elite season, as well as the suspended withdrawal of a victory. She then appealed this decision, an appeal which was not suspensive.
ASM Basket therefore remains 6th in the ranking with five victories and two defeats in eight matches. Monaco is also involved in the Euroleague, where it will face the Basques of Vitoria on Thursday evening.
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