The suspension of the 2025/26 Regional Water Polo League may not have been inevitable. According to information seen by Waterpolo 360, the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro (VPSCG) allegedly submitted a detailed plan to fellow member federations aimed at keeping the competition alive for next season.
The proposals — sent in a letter to the league’s board — were intended as a compromise following the collapse of talks between Croatia and Serbia over the league format.
Key elements of the alleged plan
The Montenegrin proposal reportedly called for a complete restructuring of the league, including:
- Moving the league headquarters to Montenegro — with the aim of acting as a neutral base between member countries.
- Expanding the league’s board to include representatives from the business sector across all member nations, to improve financial stability and attract sponsorship.
- Introducing prize money for the top three finishers (€50,000 for the champion, €35,000 for second, €20,000 for third), initially funded by the national federations before being taken over by the league through sponsorship revenue.
- Covering officiating costs — such as referees and delegates — centrally, to reduce expenses for host clubs.
- Retaining a full regular season rather than a shortened play-off format, though open to calendar adjustments to fit national championships.
- Addressing the Kotor venue dispute through dialogue, following Croatian clubs’ refusal to play there in recent years due to a naming controversy.
The letter also suggested rebranding the league to improve its image, stepping up marketing and PR efforts, and even exploring changes to the timing of the final tournament — for example, moving it to a later summer date at an outdoor venue.
A plea for unity
The VPSCG is said to have stressed the importance of preserving what has often been regarded as the strongest league in the world outside the Champions League, warning that the suspension would deprive players of regular high-quality competition. It also pointed to other regional sports leagues, such as the ABA basketball league, which have survived and grown despite political and logistical challenges.
Montenegro — one of the league’s founding nations in 2009 — reportedly expressed willingness to take on greater responsibility for the competition’s administration and finances. However, the proposals appear to have come too late in the process to change the decision, with Croatia and Serbia already leaning towards suspension.
Missed opportunity?
While it remains unclear how much support the Montenegrin plan had among clubs, the federation reportedly claimed that some Serbian teams were open to continuing in a reformed league. For Croatian clubs, the offer of reduced hosting costs and prize incentives might have been attractive — but by the time the plan was tabled, the calendar and budget constraints for 2025/26 had already become entrenched.
The suspension leaves Montenegro’s five senior clubs particularly exposed, with limited opportunities for strong international fixtures. The VPSCG has indicated it will now explore bilateral arrangements to ensure its teams continue to face elite-level opposition next season.
For now, the Regional League remains in limbo. Whether proposals like Montenegro’s form the basis of a 2026/27 revival will depend on whether the three federations can bridge their differences in the months ahead.
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