NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Two professional basketball games in Spain against an Israeli team this week will be played without fans after they were deemed “high risk” due to security concerns amid anti-Israel protests.
Real Madrid CF said in a statement that their EuroLeague game against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday “will be played behind closed doors” and the team is “complying with the recommendation of the national police.”
Real Madrid said they met with the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport regarding the contest and tickets will be refunded (season ticket holders will have their refund credited to their renewal next season).
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Maccabi’s Cuban forward Jasiel Rivero dribbles down the court challenged by Barcelona’s Czech guard Tomas Satoransky (L) during the Euroleague basketball match between FC Barcelona and Maccabi Tel-Aviv at the Palau Blaugrana arena in Barcelona on February 5, 2025. (Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images)
Maccabi Tel Aviv will also play Barcelona on Tuesday behind closed doors, with Barcelona also citing the match as “high risk”. That announcement was made last month.
Reuters noted that Israeli teams in the league played home games at neutral venues from October 2023 until last month due to protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict. Maccabi Tel Aviv are on the road in Spain for both competitions. Maccabi Tel Aviv returned home in December after playing home games earlier this season in Serbia.
According to the Times of Israel, more than 250 organizations have “demanded” that Thursday’s match be suspended.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans celebrate their team’s 118-74 victory over Skipper Bologna in the 2004 Euroleague Final Four on May 1, 2004 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (David Silverman/Getty Images)
LOOKING BACK AT THE SPORTS PICTURE RETROVERS THROUGHOUT 2025, WITH NBA AND MLB INVESTIGATIONS LEADING.
Maccabi is set to return home on January 11 against in-country rival Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday, according to its schedule. They played a home game on Sunday, an 89-64 win over Hapoel Haemek, also in Israel.
Israeli teams were to return to their home arenas following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas overseen by President Donald Trump. As part of the ceasefire, Hamas released the remaining 20 live hostages in Gaza, while Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump as the “greatest friend” Israel has ever had.
A supporter carries an Israeli flag on his shoulders outside the Adidas Arena before a Euroleague basketball match between Paris Basketball and Maccabi Tel-Aviv, in Paris, on January 16, 2025. (Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/AFP via Getty Images)
Netanyahu announced that he was nominating Trump to be the first non-Israeli recipient of the Israel Prize, which he described as the nation’s “highest award.”
