LuDux1 wrote:I wonder if EL minimal budget rule is as strict as their minimal arena rule
The arena rule has exceptions, as long as the club is in the process of building or moving to an arena that meets the criteria.
That is how Barca is allowed to play in Palau Blaugrana, with 7,600 capacity, instead of in their previous arena, Palau Sant Jordi, with 17,600 capacity, because that way they don't have to pay rent.
They get away with that, even though the arena minimum is 10,000, because they are building a new arena.
The salary rule doesn't have exceptions. It must be met to compete in the league. ASVEL was apparently given multiple extensions and didn't meet it.
The EuroLeague supposedly doesn't even have to let them finish the season. Apperently, under the rules, they can be removed from the competition even mid-season. It's supposedly up to a vote of the other teams.
One way or another though, by failing to meet the minimum salary rule, the team is automatically removed from the next season. Even if the club has a long term license, the license is then revoked.
The minimum salary rule then is obviously much more strict.
Although, with the arena rule, they are much more strict on that in recent years also. In recent years, every club has had to start construction of a new arena, if they were not already in compliance with the arena specs.
