Massive Investment in Serbian Basketball

Money has flowed into the coffers of Crvena zvezda and Partizan from every direction. According to an investigation by the weekly magazine Radar, the two basketball clubs spent a modest €182 million over the past five years. Of that total, €50 million was spent in 2025 alone. The influx comes from public enterprises, the state budget, private companies, and the City of Belgrade.

"It comes from public enterprises, but also from the state budget, some private companies, and the city of Belgrade," said Katarina Pantelić, a journalist for Nova Ekonomija. Major sponsors include Telekom, which supports both clubs, as well as Naftna industrija Srbije, Dunav Osiguranje, and Poštanska štedionica. Betting company sponsorship agreements are also standard.

Public Funds Dominate Budgets

Research by Nova Ekonomija revealed that the share of public financing in these clubs jumped from 8 percent to 71 percent between 2012 and 2024. The principle is clear: money flows from budget reserves to the Basketball Federation of Serbia, which then distributes it. "The justification is that this money is for the regular operation of the federation. Later, it is distributed to clubs. How it is spent, we do not know," Pantelić explained.

While financial reports are not always transparent, Radar notes that the largest expenses go to player salaries and coaching staff. From a sports perspective, experts say the invested money matches European standards, but not domestic ones. "If Zvezda and Partizan spend as much as other EuroLeague clubs with similar ambitions, the problem is that people here do not live at the same level as in Italy and Spain... That is why it is a problem for us," said Marko Vlahović, a journalist for Sportklub.

Political Influence and Fan Expectations

For fans, the issue is the modest performance of their beloved clubs in the EuroLeague. Partizan’s quarter-final run and Zvezda’s play-in exit mark the high points of recent years. Despite this, Vlahović believes the investment is not wasted. "Both Zvezda and Partizan had sold-out games this season. What more do you want? We enjoy basketball week in week out. That was not on the radar five or six years ago."

However, the method of financing remains controversial. "The only problem is that this financing should never be part of someone’s will, and politics should not get involved," Pantelić stated. Recently, the state president claimed Zvezda received more support than any club in Europe and even predicted a Final Four appearance. Instead, fans settled for domestic trophies and the regional ABA League.