 Van Den Broeck replied on a confrontational tone that he was unfazed by "professional amateurs" who were "afraid they're going to lose the good life when the real pros arrive".Shortly after however the Belgium coach was threatened with a life ban by the Belgian Basketball Federation, following which he ceased his involvement in the project.The project was immediately taken over by Marcel Leclerc, president of football club Olympique de Marseille, who had been present at the earlier meeting.