Hapoel Tel Aviv Opens EuroLeague Season with Historic All-Turkish Officiating Crew
Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to begin their second EuroLeague season on Thursday evening, facing Bayern Munich in Sofia. The Israeli team enters the 2026-2027 campaign with high expectations following a sixth-place finish in the regular season last year, which led to a playoff appearance where they lost to Real Madrid.
This opening game will mark a significant moment in EuroLeague history, as it will be the first time two Turkish referees have officiated a game together in the competition's top tier. Emin Mogulkoc will serve as the main referee, with Huseyin Cicek as one of his assistants, alongside Portugal's Sergio Silva.
Last season, Hapoel Tel Aviv finished with a 15-23 record and advanced directly to the playoffs. In their opening EuroLeague game last year, they defeated Barcelona 103-87. The team, coached by Dimitris Itoudis, had a mixed record against Bayern Munich in the previous season, winning 82-72 away but losing 79-64 at home. They also met in the preseason this summer, with Hapoel winning 85-77, handing Bayern their only preseason loss.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
