VEF Rīga to bypass agent, deal directly with Kalnītis client

VEF Rīga founder Edgars Jaunups announced on Tuesday that the club intends to sign a basketball player represented by agent Artūrs Kalnītis, but plans to negotiate directly with the athlete rather than through the agent. According to Jaunups, the deal would involve no payments to the agent and no role for him in the club-player relationship.

The statement followed news that at least two clients of Kalnītis's agency, BSA Basketball, signed contracts with clubs in Russia this summer. Writing on social platform X, Jaunups called the move a sad and shameful precedent for Latvian basketball.

VEF's stance on Russia

Jaunups reiterated that VEF Rīga has consistently refused, since the start of the war, to sign foreign players who have played in Russia. He said any cooperation with Russia in sports is unacceptable, particularly because Russia uses sport as a propaganda tool.

Questions around the agency

Latvian Basketball Union director general Kaspars Cipruss earlier told Delfi that, based on information available to him, BSA Basketball is officially registered in the United Arab Emirates and conducts no economic activity in Latvia.

According to Firmas.lv data, Kalnītis holds a 35% stake in the Latvia-registered company SIA BSA Football, alongside Rūdolfs Nerets with 20%, and former Latvian national team players Jānis Strēlnieks, Dairis Bertāns and Dāvis Bertāns with 15% each. In 2025 the company reported turnover of 19,681 euros and profit of 127 euros.