EuroLeague May Return to Israel as Security Guarantees Sought

Israeli basketball clubs are hopeful that EuroLeague and EuroCup games could return to Israel soon, despite the ongoing security situation. Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv are set to begin their EuroLeague season, with Hapoel Jerusalem joining the EuroCup next week. Currently, all Israeli teams are hosting their European games abroad.

Following a meeting between Maccabi Tel Aviv chairman Shimon Mizrahi and club professional director Claudio Coldebella with EuroLeague executives during the Super Cup in Abu Dhabi, EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bartomeu and competition manager Diego Garcia are expected to visit Israel within the next two weeks. Mizrahi also plans to raise the issue of returning games to Israel at the EuroLeague owners' meeting in Italy in early October. Officials from Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem support this initiative.

"The goal is to give the EuroLeague all the guarantees that the teams are safe in Israel and that the games can be played here," a senior official from one of the Israeli clubs stated. "We hope to bring the games back home during the first round." However, another source from an Israeli club expressed caution, noting, "There is no real guarantee that anything will happen. We are dependent on a situation over which we have no control."