According to the BBC website, a FIBA official has branded the government’s plans to set up a new British governing body to replace the British Federation as "abusive".
The governing body, the report said, will ban English players from its competitions from June 15, which would prevent Britain's best men and women from playing in the qualifiers for the 2009 European finals.
The controversy centres on a government-commissioned review, which was due to be published last November, aimed at giving basketball a better foundation for success.
FIBA has taken exception to the level of government interference and the suspension of funding to England Basketball pending the review’s publication.
Basketball’s world governing body, FIBA, is threatening to suspend all English players from its competitions unless the UK government withdraws plans to take more control of the sport.
