Fans Banned From Maccabi Tel Aviv, Real Madrid EuroLeague Game Over Security Concerns
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv players competing against FC Bayern in the EuroLeague. Photo: IMAGO/speedshot via Reuters Connect
Fans have been banned from attending the EuroLeague match between the Israeli basketball team Maccabi Tel Aviv and their Spanish rivals Real Madrid on Thursday after authorities classified the match as “high risk,” Read Madrid announced on Monday.
“Following a meeting of the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance in Sport, which declared the game high-risk, Real Madrid is complying with the recommendation made by the National Police,” the team said in a released statement.
The game will be played behind closed doors at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, and the cost of any tickets purchased for the game will be refunded immediately and automatically to the purchaser. Season ticket holders will have their refunds credited toward their renewal for the next season. Maccabi Tel Aviv has not publicly commented on the move.
More than 250 organizations reportedly called for the match to be canceled because of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip during its war against Hamas terrorists who orchestrated the deadly rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. A protest is scheduled to take place outside of Movistar Arena on Thursday.
A EuroLeague match between Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Palau Blaugrana arena on Tuesday will also take place without fans in attendance because of security concerns, it was announced in mid-December.
Several EuroLeague matches in other countries involving Maccabi Tel Aviv have also faced issues in the past. In January last year, a EuroLeague basketball game between Paris and Maccabi Tel Aviv was disrupted by stink bombs. In November, the Turkish team Fenerbahce relocated its home games against Maccabi and the fellow Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv from Istanbul to Munich because of security concerns. A game between Dubai and Hapoel Tel Aviv was also played behind closed doors in November in Sarajevo for security reasons.
In September, the Vuelta a Espana cycling race in Spain was repeatedly disrupted by demonstrators protesting Israel’s participation and organizers were forced to cut the race short and cancel the finale in Madrid.
