EuroLeague Games May Return to Israel, Says Hapoel Tel Aviv Chairman

Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball Club Chairman Stav Shacham expressed optimism that EuroLeague games could soon return to Israel. Speaking on the radio program "Doing Sports" on Galatz, Shacham stated, "I will meet with the EuroLeague owners, I believe the games will return to the country soon." This statement comes after the EuroLeague's decision to suspend games in Israel due to security concerns related to the ongoing conflict in the region. Consequently, Israeli teams have been playing their home games in neutral venues outside of Israel, such as Belgrade, Serbia, and Sofia, Bulgaria.

The EuroLeague management continuously assesses security situations and risks for visiting teams, staff, and referees. Additional challenges for European clubs include insurance limitations for flights to conflict zones and cancellations by foreign airlines to Israel. Some European clubs also opposed their teams traveling to Israel during periods of heightened tensions, pressuring the league. The relocation of home games to neutral sites was implemented as a solution.

With a relative calm in the region, the possibility of the EuroLeague reconsidering games in Israel has emerged. Shacham's remarks indicate this is an active consideration for him, as he anticipates a meeting with the league's owners. A decision to bring games back to Israel would mark a significant shift from the current arrangement necessitated by security conditions. However, no official decision from the EuroLeague has been announced, and the matter remains under consideration based on security developments.