European basketball is currently dealing with a major rift as tensions between FIBA and the Euroleague - run by Euroleague Commercial Assets - rumble on.

FIBA Europe ruled that any country associated with Euroleague, the continent's major club competition, risked being thrown out of international tournaments, although the rights of the 16 clubs which play in the competition haven't been affected. 

In March it was announced that eight countries - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain - had been thrown out of the 2017 edition of EuroBasket, the continent's premier tournament.

This was because these countries "have leagues or clubs which have entered into an agreement with the ECA".

A further six countries - Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Poland and Turkey - were sent letters drawing their attention to "recent reports and public statements" which suggest that one or more of their clubs may have entered into an agreement with the ECA.

They were all invited to submit their position to avoid a possible ban, with France and Germany later joining this group to take the total number of countries involved to 16.

The absence of so many countries would completely devalue EuroBasket - while countries have also been threatened with expulsion from other events, including this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. 

Olympic silver medallists Spain, the EuroBasket champions, and Lithuania are the only European men's teams to have confirmed their places in Brazil, although France, Serbia, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Croatia are all hoping to make it via qualification tournaments in July.

Last month, the governing body announced that the 16 countries involved have backed the action the governing body has taken against them and FIBA Europe has made more positive noises following a Board meeting in Dublin today.

It means that the EuroBasket tournament could go ahead with relative normality with qualification due to begin in August.

"The Board noted that the National Federations impacted had reacted positively to the Board’s decision of 20 March 2016 and, as a result, no National Federation is currently affected in a negative way by the decision," a statement said.

"Consequently, the senior men's national teams are currently expected to take their respective places in the next competitions organised by FIBA Europe."

The Euroleague row began in 2000 when Europe’s top clubs broke away from FIBA to form a new tournament.

FIBA has attempted to wrestle back control and launched a new Champions League tournament. 

Both parties have complained about the other at the European Commission as the situation became increasingly hostile.

Talks between both sides were held in Munich earlier this month.

However, FIBA Europe's statement today made clear that hostilities still remain.

"The FIBA Europe Board also acknowledged that the Euroleague Commercial Assets’ anti-competitive practices persist and it is required to continue monitoring the position of the National Federations towards such practices," the governing body said.