UMB, June 1st, 2023.
As previously announced, a meeting took place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, at Hotel Alargon, between UMB/KBF/Five&Six & PBA/BilliardsTV, on Saturday May 27th, 2023, 15:00hrs.
Attendees:
Mr. Farouk BARKI (UMB President)
Mr. PARK Bohwan (KBF President)
Mr. SHIN Yongjin (KBF Executive Director)
Mr. William OH (Five&Six CEO)
Mr. LEE Heejin (PBA VP & WOW CEO)
Mr. YOON SeogHan (BilliardsTV CEO)
As on several occasions, earlier mentioned, UMB has always been open for cooperation with PBA, within the basic implications imposed by our statutory rules, conceived to protect the interests of our Confederations, Federations, Sponsors, Event Organizers and above all, the integrity and fair play to our Sport and our Players, at all levels.
The previously planned, above-mentioned, meeting, requested by PBA, was targeted to expectations of new ideas or proposals from PBA that would open possibilities for discussion about a future cooperation between UMB and PBA,
Mr. Farouk Barki welcomed the attendees wishing to have a successful meeting for the promotion of our sport, especially this first time that UMB and KBF attend a meeting together with PBA.
Mr. Heejin Lee objected that Mr. Barki sat at the head of the meeting table, as from his point of view, there were 3 federations of the same level?!
Mr. Barki, for not creating any problems, moved his chair and sat next to Mr. Park.
Mr. Barki insisted that only 2 official federations were present, UMB and KBF, recognized by IOC and KOC. PBA is not recognized by IOC or any National Olympic Committee.
Mr. Park confirmed that KBF is the only recognized federation in Korea.
To start the meeting in a constructive manner, Mr. Barki asked Mr. Heejin Lee about his new ideas or proposal for future cooperation. Surprisingly, Mr. Heejin Lee answered that he had no new ideas. He requested that UMB should sign an MOU with PBA and remove the suspension of PBA players, before deliberating on a future cooperation.
He added that most PBA players do not want to compete in UMB events.
Mr. Barki asked Mr. Heejin Lee to send a written cooperation proposal to UMB and KBF for evaluation with their respective Boards, Mr. Lee refused and insisted that a decision should be taken at the meeting.
Mr. Barki and Mr. Park considered this request unacceptable.
It was clear that PBA’s target for the meeting being to have UMB remove all suspension and proceed to a provisional MoU, before entering any further details about a possible cooperation.
On a specific issue, that cannot not be mentioned at this stage, due to a confidentiality agreement, PBA representative Mr. Lee, disrespectfully, accused Mr. Barki of lying.
This issue, added to his continuous hostile behavior, leaded to the unanimous decision by the UMB parties to leave the meeting that, in view of the non-constructive atmosphere, would not lead to an understanding.
The meeting was ended and postponed to a later stage when PBA would provide tangible realistic new ideas or proposals for cooperation.
UMB regrets the rude course that the meeting had taken, that left no options for constructive discussions, considering the interest of all parties.
The UMB parties are confident to have acted in good faith, with positive expectations, and to have informed you conveniently.
UMB.