The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the global governing body for professional basketball, has officially recognised the UK’s Super League Basketball competition.
Formerly known as the British Basketball League, our domestic division has been through quite a turbulent time over the past couple of years, with teams disbanding, rebranding, and the organisation being completely overhauled from the ground up.
One of those in question was our very own local team, now known simply as Manchester Basketball, along with several other teams changing names, badges and more in line with the ‘new dawn’ for pro ball in our country.
Despite the second season of SLB being well underway, this latest chapter has still had a fair amount of teething problems and significant obstacles, with FIBA having previously suspended the British Basketball Federation’s (BBF) from licensing domestic men’s club competitions earlier this year.
Super League Basketball (SLB) is proud to announce that FIBA, the global governing body of basketball, has officially recognised SLB.
It continues: “This landmark decision marks a significant breakthrough for the sport across the UK and allows SLB and its member clubs to accelerate ambitious plans to nurture talent, enhance venues, and expand the top-tier league’s reach both domestically and internationally.
“Crucially, FIBA’s recognition also lifts the ban on Great Britain’s men’s national team competing on the international stage.”
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As a result, they go on to explain that the league will now play “a pivotal role in the staging of Great Britain’s FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers fixture on 27 November” – which also serves as a huge plus for elite national programmes, both male and female.
Sanjay Bhandari MBE, who is currently serving as the Interim Independent Chair of Super League Basketball, commented: “We have been working quietly and diligently to secure a sustainable and positive pathway for top-flight basketball in the UK.
“We extend our thanks to the leaders of FIBA’s Task Force for their cooperation and continued support throughout this process. Together, we have reached a solution that gives our clubs the confidence they deserve and provides our fans with peace of mind after a challenging period for the sport…
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“FIBA’s recognition is transformative and means that our plans to drive SLB forward as an ambitious, high-growth sports organisation can progress at pace. We look ahead with excitement as we work closely with FIBA, UK Sport and government to ensure the sport achieves the success it deserves across all areas.” With the latest campaign having tipped off in September, they’ve stood tall and steadfast.
The decision comes after a task force with dispatched by FIBA to consult with relevant SLB stakeholders and sporting authorities, which the result being an outcome that benefited both parties: i.e. the body recognising that they represent the best course for “safeguarding the stability and integrity of the sport.”
Sharing their own comment on the watershed breakthrough, FIBA added: “To ensure the stability and continuity of top-tier men’s basketball in Great Britain during this period of suspension, FIBA has entered into a direct recognition agreement with Super League Basketball.
“This agreement provides a framework for the organisation and governance of domestic competitions while preserving regulatory integrity.”
“FIBA, through its Task Force, will continue to work closely with BBF and all relevant stakeholders, including UK Sport and the UK Government, to support BBF in becoming a self-sustaining organisation and to secure the long-term stability and growth of men’s basketball in Great Britain.”
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We’re glad this long, drawn-out period of uncertainty has wrapped up in plenty of good time for the competition to now focus on the fast-approaching finals early next year. It’s also a nice bonus that they’re happening right here in Greater Manchester.
Frank Warren’s special anniversary fight card, featuring local fighters, is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Queensberry Promotions is toasting founder Frank Warren as he marks a major milestone in the industry, with a massive Manchester fight event and plenty of regional boxers on the card.
The 73-year-old entrepreneur and boxing manager is set to hold a landmark fight night in early 2026 as he celebrates four and a half decades in the business.
Being hosted not just the biggest indoor entertainment venue in Manchester, but all of Europe, Co-op Live, the legendary promoter and his company will be welcoming a wealth of both local and global athletes to the arena, which is continuing to attract more live sport and combat sports, specifically.
They’ve put together a fight card with plenty of interest, and the evening is sure to feature plenty of other familiar faces out in the audience, too.
Dubbed ‘The Magnificent 7’, the headline fight will be a face-off between 20-year-old Moses Itauma and American boxer Jermain Franklin.
The heavyweight clash is sure to be a tasty one, with Itauma having now famously defeated veteran Dillian Whyte in a first-round demolition; meanwhile, Frankling is riding a wave of confidence following a trio of consecutive wins.
But while the main event will have plenty of global eyes on, we’ll confess that we’re most excited by the roster of Manc talents on show.
Featuring on the undercard is not only experienced Ashton-born boxer Zak Miller, but 24-year-old ‘Super’ Alex Murphy.
The up-and-coming fighter, who also happens to be a big Bolton Wanderers fan, trains just down the road at Eccles Boxing School and has 14 wins from 16 bouts.
Manchester’s combat sports stars certainly delivered for Queensberry in a recent event at the Co-op earlier this month, and we expect the same next January.
The last Frank Warren-backed event in Manchester didn’t disappoint.
Speaking on the big booking in line with his big anniversary, Warren said in an official statement: “We are thrilled to be delivering such a strong Magnificent 7 bounty for the fans in our first UK show of 2026…
“We are delighted with what we have put together across 2025 in tandem with our new broadcast partner DAZN, but we have the scope to go bigger and further in 2026, which we will do and make it a landmark year for the sport.
“This show will also effectively celebrate my 45th year in the professional business, and I believe this card certainly does justice to the occasion. I’m very happy to have our heavyweight prodigy Moses, topping the bill in another perfect test of his unquestionable credentials against a very tough American in Jermain Franklin.”
Presale for official Co-op Members goes live from 12 noon on Monday, 17 November, while general admission tickets will be available from the same time the following Wednesday (19 Nov); you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
We’ve got a new favourite TV show: Erling Haaland’s YouTube channel
Danny Jones
In a world packed with so many different streaming platforms that it can be hard to keep track of which new phenomenon is on what, or even what subscriptions you have, we’re glad to inform you that there’s a new show you can watch for free in the form of Erling Haaland’s YouTube channel.
No, seriously: now Traitors is over, it might just be our latest obsession.
First and foremost, it’s worth noting that in a climate of largely media-trained professional athletes, we always find characters like Erling Haaland refreshing – primarily because he’s an unapologetic but still inoffensive footballer who pretty much does and says whatever he wants, both on the pitch and off.
Including (judging just off the first two episodes alone) cooking and eating steak in the Manchester rain, dressing up like the Joker, talking about how much he loves milk, and chasing his childhood sweetheart through his rather large home.
Ironically, this isn’t technically his debut as a so-called ‘influencer’, having previously released self-made videos of him rapping as ateenager. Yes, it exists.
Nevertheless, now with a proper camera crew behind him and in a much more content-rich stage in his life as one of the most famous sporting personalities on the planet.
Haaland has gone from not only one of the most exciting young players on the planet, to developing an even bigger celebrity profile since arriving in Manchester and the Premier League at large, becoming a persona-led brand in his own right.
The 25-year-old son of former Blue, Alf-Inge Haaland, was always going to be a popular figure among City supporters, but it says quite a lot that other football fans, even from rival clubs, find it hard to find him anything other than personable, funny and fascinating at times.
You only have to look at the reactions to his conveniently timed Halloween episode, where he dressed up as a famous Batman villain and went around Manchester ‘in disguise’. If you can’t spot the big blonde Norwegian number nine in a crowd, then you’re probably too late for Specsavers, to be honest.
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Haaland as the Joker doing kick-ups – so head to his YouTube and tick that off now.
We’re not entirely sure what motivated him to kickstart these high-production value videos now, but we’re not complaining; already, it’s given us more laughs, whether intentional or not, than most run-of-the-mill sitcoms.
It goes without saying that we can’t wait to see what he drums up after the big win against Liverpool, in which he delivered yet again, netting his 14th goal in just 11 Premier League appearances this season.
We particularly enjoyed how he chose to celebrate scoring against his former club, Borussia Dortmund, in the Champions League this month: by heading to Chinatown, seemingly for not only some Pho Cue but for a special late-night trip to Fat Pats, too.
For now, until we get the next instalment of our new and hopefully regularly scheduled Haaland YouTube programming, please enjoy that video of him spitting bars as a teen…
Bodo/Glimt's Erik Botheim dismantled AS Roma with couple of goals and three assists.
Danny Jones -
10th November 2025 
