EuroLeague Decision on Israeli Teams' Home Games Expected Soon

EuroLeague officials, including CEO and Competition Manager Diego Gian, have concluded meetings in Israel with Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar and representatives from Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Jerusalem. The central topic was the potential return of EuroLeague games to Israel after an extended period where Israeli clubs were forced to host opponents abroad due to security concerns following the October 2023 "Swords of Iron" war. Chairman of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Shimon Mizrahi, estimates a final decision will be made within seven to ten days. Minister Zohar emphasized the government's commitment to providing the necessary security guarantees for the teams' return, including immediate evacuation plans in case of escalation. Israeli representatives expressed cautious optimism. Currently, the teams are scheduled to continue playing at neutral venues in Europe until at least November: Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem in Belgrade, Serbia, and Hapoel Tel Aviv in Sofia, Bulgaria. If the EuroLeague rejects the request, the clubs plan to move their games to Cyprus starting in early November. The prohibition on international games in Israel stems from security considerations, concerns for visiting teams' safety, and airspace instability. Hosting games abroad has incurred significant sporting and financial costs for the clubs, including loss of home-court advantage, reduced local audiences, increased travel expenses, and diminished revenue from ticket sales and commercial activities. Foreign clubs, particularly from Turkey and Greece, have previously expressed reservations, as have some foreign players. For games to return to Israel, the EuroLeague requires detailed guarantees from the Israeli government covering security, air travel, and emergency evacuation protocols. The clubs hope to return to hosting in Israel, ending a long period of playing abroad, pending EuroLeague approval and government security commitments.