EuroLeague Launches Disciplinary Proceedings Against Dubai Club Over Thomas Walkup Transfer Saga
Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
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- The EuroLeague has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Dubai club for alleged rule violations in attempting to sign player Thomas Walkup.
- Olympiacos Piraeus claims Walkup is still under contract and rejected a 870,000 euro offer from Dubai, refuting reports of a 1.5 million euro bid.
- Walkup himself has sought to terminate his contract with Olympiacos and has missed medical checks and training, while Dubai's pursuit complicates their bid for a permanent EuroLeague license.
The EuroLeague has officially begun disciplinary proceedings against the Dubai club, escalating a summer-long dispute with Olympiacos Piraeus concerning player Thomas Walkup.
At the heart of the conflict is Dubai's alleged pursuit of Walkup, a player whose contract with Olympiacos reportedly does not include a buyout clause. Greek outlet Gazzetta.gr reported that the EuroLeague's investigation stems from rule violations related to acquiring the 33-year-old player. The situation was further fueled by public statements from Dubai's general director, Dejan Kamenjaลกeviฤ, who asserted the club did everything possible to sign Walkup.
The EuroLeague is initiating disciplinary actions against the United Arab Emirates team.
According to EuroLeague rules, direct contact with a player under contract without a buyout option is permissible only within the final 60 days of the agreement. Olympiacos maintains Walkup's contract is valid until the end of the 2026-2027 season. The club stated they rejected an official 870,000 euro offer from Dubai and denied widespread media reports of a 1.5 million euro bid ever being submitted.
The club did absolutely everything to acquire Th. Walkup, so now the final decision depends on Olympiacos.
The controversy has reportedly concerned Dubai's Sheikh Abdullah, the club's owner, particularly as the team is seeking a permanent EuroLeague license. Meanwhile, Walkup has expressed his desire to leave Olympiacos, submitting a unilateral written notice to terminate his contract and requesting immediate release. He has also missed medical examinations and team practices.
Walkup, who joined Olympiacos in 2021 from Kaunas Zalgiris, has been a significant player for the Greek team, winning multiple domestic titles and a EuroLeague championship. Last season, he averaged 5.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game in the EuroLeague, with his on-court presence contributing to an average point differential of 6.4 points for Olympiacos.
Olympiacos maintains the American's contract is valid until the end of the 2026-2027 season, and it does not include a buyout.
About this summary
Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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