Maccabi Tel Aviv leaves Belgrade heading to Cyprus

The situation of Maccabi Tel Aviv in the continental competition has experienced a significant change. After using the Aleksandar Nikolić Hall in Belgrade as their home for the last three years in the Euroleague, the Israeli club known as the "People's Team" is preparing to move to Cyprus. Although the team has been pushing to return to its natural home in Tel Aviv, circumstances have forced them to seek an alternative solution in Limassol.

Limassol as the new destination in the Euroleague

Yiannis Ioannou, president of the Cyprus Sports Organization, confirmed through the Cyprus News Agency that the "Spyros Kyprianou" hall is fully prepared to host the Maccabi Tel Aviv matches in the European competition. The venue, with a capacity of 8,000 spectators, has already proven its suitability by serving as the host for Group C of EuroBasket 2025, a tournament in which Cyprus and Greece participated.

The Cypriot infrastructure meets all necessary standards to compete at the highest level of European basketball. The facility underwent a thorough inspection on October 6, in which representatives from the Cyprus Sports Organization, the Cypriot Police, club officials, and the management of the hall participated. This check ensures that all technical and security requirements are covered for the competition.

Validation process and official confirmation

The Euroleague has had an official letter certifying the suitability of the "Spyros Kyprianou" hall to host the Israeli team’s matches since October 2. However, the administrative process is still ongoing. Another working meeting is scheduled in the coming days, where important decisions regarding the safety of all those involved in the competition will be discussed.

President Ioannou indicated that an official announcement from the governing body of the Euroleague is expected. Although there are still details to be confirmed, it is already known what the first match the Maccabi Tel Aviv will play in its new Cypriot home will be. The clash against Real Madrid, corresponding to the seventh round, is scheduled for October 22 and will mark the debut of the Israeli team in the "Spyros Kyprianou" hall.

Last matches in Belgrade before the move

The Maccabi Tel Aviv stage in Belgrade will come to an end with the match against Olimpia Milano on October 8, corresponding to the fourth round of the Euroleague. This match will be the last that the club plays in the Aleksandar Nikolić hall, a venue that has served as their home during a period that began with the clashes between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

The club has remained in Belgrade for three years, taking advantage of the infrastructure of the Aleksandar Nikolić hall to carry out its continental competition. The decision to move to Cyprus represents a pragmatic solution given the impossibility of returning to Tel Aviv in the short term. The Israeli team, popularly known as the "People's Team", continues to seek stability to compete under the best possible conditions in the Euroleague.

Timeline of the transition

The moving process has accelerated in recent weeks. The inspection of the "Spyros Kyprianou" hall conducted on October 6 was crucial for validating that the facility meets all required standards. The confirmation from the Euroleague since October 2 shows that administrative processes are progressing as planned, although there are still security aspects to resolve in future meetings.

Implications for the continental competition

The relocation of Maccabi Tel Aviv to Cyprus represents a significant logistical change in the Euroleague. The Israeli team will continue its participation in the highest European basketball competition, but from a new geographical location. The choice of Limassol as a destination demonstrates the competition's ability to adapt to exceptional circumstances and seek solutions that allow all teams to participate under adequate conditions.

The first confrontation in the new setting against Real Madrid will be particularly relevant, as it will mark the beginning of a new phase for the Israeli club. This match of the seventh round will serve as a reference point to evaluate how the team adapts to its new competitive environment in the "Spyros Kyprianou" hall.

The situation of Maccabi Tel Aviv reflects the complexity of maintaining the competition in a complicated geopolitical context. The Euroleague has shown flexibility by allowing the team to continue participating from an alternative location, ensuring that the competition moves forward without compromising the quality and infrastructure standards that characterize the top tier of European basketball.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Maccabi Tel Aviv abandona Belgrado rumbo a Chipre