Maccabi Tel Aviv May Relocate Euroleague Games to Cyprus This Month

Maccabi Tel Aviv is reportedly close to moving its Euroleague home games from Belgrade to Limassol, Cyprus, with a crucial meeting scheduled to finalize the decision. The "Spirou Kiprianou" arena in Limassol, which hosted the recent EuroBasket tournament, is being considered. A final decision is expected soon, potentially within days, following a review by Cypriot police regarding security arrangements. The team's chairman, Shimon Mizrahi, has been actively involved, engaging in discussions with Euroleague officials and even meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. The President has reportedly lent his support to the initiative. If approved, Maccabi Tel Aviv could play its first game in Cyprus as early as October 22 against Real Madrid. The team is expected to remain in Cyprus until at least February, and possibly as late as April 2027, if returning games to Israel remains unfeasible. The move presents a significant security challenge for Cypriot police, particularly due to upcoming matches against three Turkish teams: Fenerbahce, Besiktas, and Anadolu Efes. These high-risk games will require heightened security measures. Meanwhile, Euroleague executives are expected to visit Israel next week to assess the possibility of bringing games back to the country for all Israeli teams participating in the Euroleague and EuroCup.