Weather chaos: Syntainics MBC only plays under protest

The Bundesliga basketball players of the Syntainics MBC are only traveling to the away game this Saturday (18:30) at EWE Baskets Oldenburg in Lower Saxony under protest. The club has announced that it is making the 430-kilometer trip to Oldenburg today "only under protest and against its sense of responsibility towards its players, coaches and trainers". According to the MBC, 285 kilometers of the route would be in the area for which the German Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning level red.

The MBC explained that it had not submitted a request due to force majeure or non-appearance, but rather a request to postpone the game in accordance with the BBL's match regulations. The latter includes the safety of spectators, players, referees and other parties involved in the event, including the visiting team on their journey to and from the game.

However, the BBL rejected the request. "The BBL will not grant the MBC's request to postpone the game due to severe weather conditions or the current major weather situation," said Robert Wintermantel, Head of Sports & Finance at the BBL, in an email on Friday. According to the MBC press release, Wintermantel recommended either taking a more southerly route to Oldenburg or - contrary to long-term planning and practice in professional sport - not traveling until the day of the game itself.

In addition, hosts Oldenburg are insisting on the match date. CEO Christian Andresen and managing director of sport Srdjan Klaric had already rejected the German cup winners' request to postpone the game by email this morning.