SLB investigation finds no evidence of racism as FIBA questions foreign ref appointments

Super League Basketball (SLB) has concluded its investigation into allegations of racism, corruption, and bias directed at referee Eduard Udyanskyy – and found no evidence to support the claims.

The league launched the investigation after former SLB Interim Chair and Sheffield Sharks owner Vaughn Millette publicly accused the official of discriminatory conduct via a series of now-deleted social media posts.

Those accusations, which sparked a wider debate around unconscious bias in British basketball, led to Millette’s resignation, a referee walkout and resignation from the Head of Officiating, and the postponement of several games.

As part of the investigation, SLB say they commissioned independent third-party statistical analysis, conducted a full review of game footage, and consulted technical experts including a certified behavioural analyst.

The findings confirmed there was no indication of racism, cheating, or bias affecting the integrity of SLB competitions.

However, the investigation did reveal serious failings in the complaints and communication processes between clubs and the officiating department, particularly in how Sheffield Sharks’ concerns were handled.

SLB say they have committed to overhauling its officiating structure to improve transparency and ensure concerns are raised and resolved appropriately in future.

With referees refusing to officiate Sheffield’s games, SLB took the unprecedented step of hiring a crew of Canadian referees to cover Sharks games.

These officials, brought in temporarily, officiated Sheffield’s game in Bristol on Tuesday — their final assignment before returning home the Yorkshire Post reports.

The move has triggered a separate investigation by FIBA, after concerns were raised around potential breaches of international regulations regarding the appointment of foreign officials.

The British Basketball Federation (BBF) confirmed that it is now investigating the matter, noting that referee appointments must comply with FIBA guidelines and include officials from the BBF’s approved list.

In a statement, the BBF – who are warring with SLB over the professional league operating license – said:

“FIBA has asked the BBF to investigate possible breaches of the international federation’s regulations concerning the appointment of officials from another country and/or who are not on the BBF’s approved officiating list. This investigation is ongoing. SLB have been reminded that all referee appointments should comply with FIBA regulations.”

The BBF also requested assurances from SLB about security arrangements for referees, following the breakdown in communication that led to the strike and subsequent officiating crisis.

Despite the controversy, Sheffield Sharks have accepted SLB’s ruling regarding Udyanskyy.

In a statement to The Yorkshire Post, a club spokesperson said:

“Whilst the findings support Mr Udyanskyy and we accept that, we are more focused on moving forward with the right structure in place… The investigation is ongoing into Atiba’s claim that he is being treated differently, and we await the findings of that.”

Coach Atiba Lyons — the only Black head coach in the league — raised concerns about unconscious bias, which SLB said remain under review through a separate process. The league reiterated its commitment to creating a safe, inclusive environment and improving pathways for raising concerns.

SLB and the Referees Association added they remain committed to upholding the highest officiating standards and restoring trust across the sport.

The post SLB investigation finds no evidence of racism as FIBA questions foreign ref appointments appeared first on Hoopsfix.com.