Prince Albert II has addressed the crisis engulfing AS Monaco Basket after the championship-winning team suffered a dramatic reversal of fortune that could see it competing in France’s third tier.
In a statement released by the Prince’s Palace on September 4, the Monegasque sovereign described the situation surrounding the celebrated Roca Team as a source of “profound disappointment” and called for “lucidity and responsibility” as the club attempts to rebuild.
© NICOLAS TUCAT“Having already experienced similar difficulties in the past, in 1991, the club must today be able to rebuild on solid foundations,” Albert said. The statement comes after an extraordinary season for the club.
AS Monaco Basket recently completed a historic domestic quadruple, winning the French championship, French Cup, Leaders Cup and Super Cup. The team had also become a major presence in European basketball, reaching the EuroLeague final in 2025.
© VALERY HACHEDespite those accomplishments, serious financial problems have left the club facing an uncertain future. In July, French basketball’s financial watchdog refused to admit AS Monaco Basket to either of the country’s two highest professional divisions for the 2026-2027 season. Subsequent attempts to overturn the decision were unsuccessful.
The Roca Team has since announced plans to apply for a place in Nationale Masculine 1, the third tier of French basketball, where it hopes to begin a sweeping sporting, financial and organizational rebuild.
© Alexander HassensteinAlbert stressed that the crisis reaches far beyond the professional players seen on the court.
“Behind the professional team are employees, young people, managers, volunteers, supporters and an entire sporting ecosystem that must be preserved,” he said, adding that the difficult period must be approached through “seriousness, dialogue and a long-term vision.”
© VALERY HACHEThe Prince also offered a message of confidence to the club’s players, staff, executives, volunteers and supporters, urging everyone involved to overcome the situation “collectively, with ambition and responsibility.” He additionally acknowledged the support provided by Monaco’s government.
For Albert, preserving the club is also a matter of protecting the Principality’s international reputation. The sovereign noted that basketball has become “a true showcase for Monaco” and said the sport must be given the resources necessary to continue its history and contribute to the country’s standing abroad.
© JULIEN DE ROSAHis intervention underscores the remarkable scale of the team’s fall. Within a matter of months, the Roca Team has gone from celebrating four major trophies to fighting for its survival outside professional basketball’s highest levels.
Now, its next chapter could begin far from the European stage where it established itself as one of the continent’s most recognizable teams.
