AS Monaco Basket will not play in France's top flight next season after the appeals chamber of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) rejected the club's request to register for the 2026/27 Betclic Élite.
The Monegasque club announced the decision on Saturday, saying it is now considering a new appeal to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) to secure entry into LNB competitions for the upcoming season.
In a statement, AS Monaco thanked the institutions of the Principality and everyone who supports the club's restructuring process and its efforts to meet the regulatory requirements set by the FFBB and the LNB. The club said further information would be communicated in due course.
The setback deepens a turbulent summer for one of European basketball's most prominent clubs. Monaco's initial application was first rejected on 3 July by the DNCCG, which deemed the guarantees presented insufficient. The takeover plan led by former NBA All-Star Jamal Mashburn and American investors, built on a budget of between €10m and €12.5m, was judged too fragile, and the club was granted extra time to complete the acquisition package. According to BeBasket, however, the bank holding Mashburn's guarantees reported that the account lacked sufficient funds.
Despite the rejection, AS Monaco is determined to fight on, including a fresh approach to the CNOSF. With time running out, the club must quickly produce credible financial guarantees, while uncertainty also hangs over its European participation and the roster assembled for the new season.
Sources
- [Sportando](https://sportando.basketball/en/monaco-appeal-rejected-club-considers-new-appeal-to-cnosf/)
- [Pianeta Basket](https://www.pianetabasket.com/il-caso/clamoroso-monaco-escluso-dalla-lnb-la-federazione-rigetta-la-richiesta-di-iscrizione)
