A sigh of relief in Denain! Nearly two weeks after being handed a forfeit loss, the club has regained the victory they earned in Évreux during the 34th round of Elite 2, following a decision by the FFBB Appeals Chamber this Wednesday.
For context, coach Ali Bouziane, who was suspended for the match, remained in his team’s locker room for three minutes longer than permitted before the game. With this victory now reinstated, ASDV boasts a record of 20 wins and 17 losses in the second division, positioning them well for a play-in spot.
Here is Denain’s statement upon hearing the news:
“Denain Voltaire Basket acknowledges the decision rendered by the FFBB Appeals Chamber, which overturns the initial ruling by the LNB’s Legal, Disciplinary, and Regulations Commission on April 29th in the case against ALM Évreux. The prior decision had imposed a penalty of forfeiture of the J34 Elite 2 match upon Denain Voltaire Basket.”
“The club thanks the Appeals Chamber for hearing the arguments presented by our club, its CEO, and our counsel.”
“This decision allows the club to recover an important victory, both from a sporting and a morale perspective.”
“Our focus now shifts to the court: there is one more battle to fight on Friday, at home, to secure a play-in qualification in front of our fans.”
Évreux Not Yet Safe
While their safety in the league was believed to be secured following a win awarded by forfeit, ALM Évreux remains under threat of relegation to NM1. Indeed, with their loss to Quimper (102-83) this Friday, the team from Évreux, with only one game left in the season, has just a one-win lead over Les Béliers, who are currently in the relegation zone.
The Normans will face ADA Blois, who must win to secure their spot on the podium for the play-offs. If Évreux loses to Blois, they will have to hope for a defeat from Quimper, who are playing away… against Denain!
