Today, the Swedish Basketball Association announced that they are suspending Jonas Jerebko from the national team after he signed a contract with Russian CSKA Moscow.
- We need to stand up for our values, but for us as a movement it is just as sad.
I think no one in Basketball Sweden is untouched today.
When our greatest basketball player of all time is not eligible for selection in the national team, it is a grief for the whole of Basketball Sweden, says the Swedish Basketball Association's general secretary Fredrik Joulamo to SVT Sport.
It was on Wednesday that the news came that 35-year-old Jerebko signed for the Russian big club.
The decision to suspend him from the national team was made after talks with Jerebko on Wednesday.
- I like Jonas very much and think that he is basically a nice person and we have had a good relationship.
It is a personal sadness that he as a person and basketball player makes this choice, says Joulamo.
"Does not turn anyone off for life"
If Jerebko fulfills his contract, which is valid for the rest of the season, he will miss the men's national team's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Finland on June 30 and Slovenia on July 3.
- It is a big disappointment for everyone and it is also a sporting loss before upcoming matches where we had the hopes, and still have of course, that Jonas would be a leading player this summer.
This has been a difficult process, says Joulamo.
Was there any other option in this situation for you?
- In the situation we ended up in that Jonas intends to fulfill the contract in CSKA Moscow, there was really no other alternative.
Should Yerebko break his contract with CSKA Moscow, however, the situation may change.
- We do not close as a union of someone for life or say that you do not get a second chance.
- Should it be the case that he turns in the door or that something changes, then we need to take a stand again.
This is a new situation for us.
SVT Sport has contacted Jonas Jerebko for a comment.