Hapoel Tel Aviv Owner Claims Maccabi Tel Aviv Blocked Dan Oturu's Israeli National Team Inclusion

Ofer Yanai, owner of Hapoel Tel Aviv basketball club, publicly accused Maccabi Tel Aviv of obstructing Dan Oturu's inclusion in the Israeli national basketball team. Yanai shared a video on Instagram explaining that the Israel Basketball Association had approached him months ago to naturalize Oturu as an Israeli citizen and add him to the national squad. Yanai agreed to significant contract adjustments for Oturu, including removing a buyout clause, at a cost of around two million dollars. However, the process stalled unexpectedly.

Yanai alleged that when it became known that Oturu would be the naturalized player, representatives from Maccabi Tel Aviv opposed the move, reportedly because Oturu would be joining a rival club. He criticized the basketball association for succumbing to vested interests instead of acting professionally to promote Israeli basketball. Yanai stated that if the association were impartial, Oturu would be the starting center for the national team, but instead, Benia Sarur holds that position.

Additionally, Yanai noted that Oturu had received an official invitation to play for Nigeria, his other nationality, but Yanai spent hours persuading him that the Israeli basketball association was serious and that his arrival could help Israel qualify for the Olympics. Yanai expressed disappointment over the situation.