Paulius Motiejunas, the CEO of the EuroLeague, has vehemently denied any involvement in the contentious purchase of the London Lions basketball team by Zalgiris Kaunas. According to these accusations, which were made public by Gazzetta.gr after an investigation, Motiejunas used his position and power to help his company, Zalgiris Group, close the acquisition. The validity of the deal and the transfer of Motiejunas’s Zalgiris Kaunas shares before he became CEO of EuroLeague are also called into doubt by the probe.
Contents
- 1 Conflicts of Interest and Impropriety Allegations
- 2 In response, Motiejunas strongly denies any claims
- 3 Information about the Transfer of Ownership of Zalgiris
- 4 There is no proof of inappropriate influence on the London Lions Agreement
- 5 Regarding the purchase of the London Lions, Motiejunas denied any inappropriate involvement
- 6 Preserving professional honesty
- 7 The Value of Ethical Reporting in Sports Journalism
Conflicts of Interest and Impropriety Allegations
Despite having a senior position in the EuroLeague, journalist Antonis Kalkavouras claimed in a detailed article by Gazzetta.gr that Motiejunas was directly involved in Zalgiris Kaunas’ acquisition of the London Lions. The study claims that Motiejunas manipulated the agreement to his and his business partners’ advantage by using his professional and personal ties. The investigation also revealed that Motiejunas had disproportionate control over the acquisition through Zalgiris Group, his company, which allegedly assisted in the transaction in opaque ways.
Gazzetta further exacerbated these claims by raising doubts about the manner in which Motiejunas’s interests in Zalgiris Kaunas were transferred upon his appointment as CEO of the EuroLeague. According to the story, Motiejunas had made a “gentleman’s agreement” with Paulius Jankunas, the president of Zalgiris at the moment, which would eventually enable him to retrieve his shares. Given Motiejunas’s multiple roles in the EuroLeague and Zalgiris, this sparked worries about the lack of openness and possible conflicts of interest.
In response, Motiejunas strongly denies any claims
Motiejunas responded to these accusations with a formal statement that flatly denied the charges. In a conversation with BasketNews, he said, “Following the article published by Gazzetta.gr, which misrepresented facts and insinuated conflict of interest without any evidence, I am compelled to clarify the numerous inaccuracies and unfounded allegations presented in the article.” He continued by saying that the probe lacked any verified proof and was instead predicated on conjecture and unidentified sources.
“It is imperative that media outlets uphold the highest standards of journalism by verifying facts before publication,” Motiejunas said, underscoring the need for ethical journalism. Usually, I wouldn’t give a damn about unfounded accusations, but this time, they mislead the public, compromise the EuroLeague’s legitimacy, and must be handled.”
Information about the Transfer of Ownership of Zalgiris
The transfer of Motiejunas’s interests in Zalgiris Kaunas prior to his appointment as CEO of EuroLeague is a central component of the Gazzetta probe. Motiejunas was unable to continue to own Zalgiris and hold a senior role in the league due to EuroLeague restrictions. As a result, Motiejunas made a legally binding transfer of his shares to Zalgiris Kaunas president Paulius Jankunas.
However, by establishing a new business, UAB Zalgiris CLUB, Motiejunas continued to be a part of the ownership structure. Zalgiris Kaunas was formally owned by this firm, with Jankunas owning a majority share. Motiejunas kept a 55% ownership position in the UAB Zalgiris Group, which today solely owns Zalgirio Arena, the team’s home stadium, despite the share transfer.
There is no proof of inappropriate influence on the London Lions Agreement
In addition, Motiejunas’s statement made it clear that every step of the procedure complied completely with ethical and legal requirements. “Upon accepting the role of EuroLeague CEO, I fully divested my shares in Zalgiris Kaunas and stepped down from all positions within the organization,” he stated. Additionally, he stated that all EuroLeague member clubs were properly notified of the change and that the share transfer was completed in full openness. Motiejunas claims that no stakeholders voiced any worries about the transfer of ownership.
Regarding the purchase of the London Lions, Motiejunas denied any inappropriate involvement
According to the Gazzetta article, Motiejunas was in charge of giving the London Lions financial support in return for their assets through his business, UAB Zalgiris Group. According to the article, UAB Zalgiris GROUP and the London Lions signed a loan arrangement on July 17th, using the club’s assets as security.
This claim was vehemently denied by Motiejunas, who insisted that the transaction was completely legal and transparent. Motiejunas reaffirmed in his statement that “no concerns were raised, and all EuroLeague shareholding clubs were informed of this transition.”
Preserving professional honesty
Motiejunas stressed his dedication to openness and moral behavior throughout his replies. Under his direction, the EuroLeague aims to uphold the greatest levels of professionalism and honesty, he said. He also made it clear that he was neither financially nor personally involved in any of the dealings surrounding the purchase of the London Lions, which he believed to be a business matter unrelated to his position as CEO of the EuroLeague.
Motiejunas ended by restating his dedication to preserving the EuroLeague’s principles and making sure that all decisions made by the organization were carried out in the most open and equitable manner possible. Additionally, he urged media outlets to use prudence when covering such delicate subjects and to base their reporting on factual information rather than conjecture.
The Value of Ethical Reporting in Sports Journalism
A larger problem in sports journalism—the need of media outlets to report truthfully and impartially—is brought to light by the controversy surrounding Motiejunas and the London Lions acquisition. Stories are frequently released based on inaccurate or unsubstantiated information in the era of social media and quick news, which can harm a company’s brand and breed mistrust among the general public.
The example of Motiejunas serves as a reminder of the significance of upholding journalistic ethics that place an emphasis on truthful reporting and moral behavior. Investigative journalism is essential for keeping public officials responsible, but it’s also critical to refrain from sensationalism and the dissemination of unfounded rumors that could damage someone’s reputation.
Paulius Motiejunas’s resolute reaction to the accusations of wrongdoing in the London Lions acquisition highlights his dedication to openness and moral conduct in both his personal and professional spheres. Motiejunas’s thorough explanation and response illuminated the actual nature of the transactions involved, even though the Gazzetta.gr inquiry brought up significant issues. Promoting equity, openness, and integrity within the EuroLeague and in the larger sports media environment should continue to be the major priorities as the league gains more notoriety.
