Basketball Games in Spain to be Played Without Fans
This week, two professional basketball matches featuring an Israeli team in Spain will take place without any attendees. This decision comes after they were classified as “high risk” due to ongoing anti-Israel protests.
Real Madrid CF announced in a statement that its EuroLeague game scheduled for Thursday against Maccabi Tel Aviv will occur “behind closed doors.” The team mentioned that it is adhering to the guidance provided by national police authorities.
Real Madrid met with the state Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Sports Intolerance to discuss the situation surrounding the game. They also mentioned that, in light of the circumstances, ticket refunds would be issued, with season ticket holders receiving credits toward future renewals.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is also set to play against Barcelona on Tuesday in a closed-door match, with Barcelona labeling this game as “high risk.” This announcement was made last month, highlighting the ongoing tensions.
According to recent reports, Israeli teams have played their home games at neutral venues from October 2023 until now, primarily due to protests related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Maccabi Tel Aviv has been traveling to Spain for these matches, previously hosting games in Serbia at the beginning of the season before returning home in December.
Over 250 organizations have publicly called for the cancellation of Thursday’s game, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding these events.
Looking ahead, Maccabi Tel Aviv is scheduled to face fellow Israeli team Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday, returning home on January 11 after a recent win over Hapoel Hamek with a score of 89-64.
After a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was brokered by President Trump, both parties made significant prisoner releases, which adds to the complex backdrop in which these games are occurring. In related news, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described Trump as the “greatest friend” Israel has ever had.
Recently, Netanyahu announced that Trump would receive the Israel Prize, the country’s highest honor, marking a historic moment as he is the first non-Israeli to receive this award.
