THE other day I received a rather distraught telephone call from a British mother who told me that her 13-year-old son had been banned from playing in a local basketball match because he was a British citizen.
I was rather appalled. She told me that the Balearic Basketball Federation was demanding that all non-Spaniards get the necessary paperwork from the International Basketball Federation which would allow them to play with their Spanish counterparts. What amazed me is that the person in question is 13-years-old and all this paperwork seemed rather unnecessary especially as we are talking junior league basketall.
If he was a professional, I might understand it, but we are talking about a teenager. We contacted the Basketball Federation and they told us that they were seeking to bring foreigners in junior leagues into line and were demanding the necessary documenation. This is all very well but what the local basketball federation has to realise is that under European Union law, this 13-year-old is equal to his Spanish counterparts and they cannot demand any other paperwork. It is all very well being in Europe and enjoying the benefits but Spain must also abide by its rules. It is a Europe of nations, not a nations of Europe.
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