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Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Team to Play EuroLeague Home Games in Cyprus
Maccabi Tel Aviv has secured approval to host its EuroLeague home basketball games at the Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Center in Limassol, Cyprus, starting on Thursday, October 22, 2026, against Real Madrid. This relocation from Serbia serves as an alternative should the EuroLeague deny the team's request to return to Israel.
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What happened
- 01Maccabi Tel Aviv has received approval to host its EuroLeague home games at the Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Center in Limassol, Cyprus, starting October 22, 2026.
- 02The Cyprus Police will implement unprecedented security measures, placing the arena under police control 24 hours before each match.
- 03Security operations will extend beyond the stadium to encompass surrounding areas and team accommodations, requiring officers to work overtime.
- 04Special security protocols and thorough checks will be heightened for games against Turkish teams Fenerbahce, Besiktas, and Anadolu.
- 05The arena's capacity will be capped at 5,000 spectators, with strict controls and police approval required for visiting fans.
- 06Attendees will be prohibited from bringing personal belongings into the arena and must possess a fan card to enter.
- 07Adjustments to the Cyprus facility are currently underway to meet EuroLeague standards before the first game against Real Madrid.
Due to potential tensions and past incidents, the Cyprus Police are preparing exceptional and unprecedented security measures. According to Nikos Levidis of the Cyprus Police, the operation will require a vast number of officers working overtime to secure the arena, surrounding areas, and team accommodations. Security will be particularly heightened for matches against Turkish teams, including Fenerbahce, Besiktas, and Anadolu.
Under the strict security protocols, the arena will be handed over to police control 24 hours before each game and closed off exclusively for Maccabi Tel Aviv's practices. Spectators will be prohibited from bringing personal belongings into the arena, and all attendees must hold a fan card. Additionally, spectator stands will be separated, and visiting fans will require police approval for admission.
While the arena has a capacity of up to 8,000, attendance for these games will be capped at 5,000 spectators, with only a small ticket allocation for visiting teams. Adjustments to the facility, including the hoops, are currently underway to meet EuroLeague requirements.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: The Jerusalem Post. Read The Jerusalem Post’s originalThe coverage
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