The Israeli teams are coming: it’s a hot week in Bologna and Milan

It would be an exaggeration to speak of high tension, but certainly in recent days, Italian basketball news has also been marked by protests expected for the arrival of the two Israeli EuroLeague teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, who are playing each other tonight in the Winner League.

The match between the “yellows” and Virtus Bologna is scheduled for November 21 at 8:30 p.m. The “Blocchiamo tutto” (Let’s block everything) assembly and various activist groups have long been calling for a gathering outside the Paladozza to boycott the event by displaying Palestinian flags. “Show Israel the red card!” is the slogan.

The police headquarters gave the green light to the match, and the mayor of the city, Matteo Lepore, requested that it be moved to the Unipol Arena, away from the city center and commercial activities, but after a political clash with Minister Piantedosi, he acknowledged the decision to remain at the Paladozza: “Minister Piantedosi has already made his decisions, and at this point, we as a city will have to organize ourselves accordingly. There is freedom of expression, but it is important that it is not violent.”

A change of date was also considered, but the police headquarters and law enforcement agencies are working to ensure public order.

A day earlier, on the 20th, the other Israeli EuroLeague team, Hapoel Tel Aviv, joint leaders of the competition with Red Star, is expected in Milan.

Here, the run-up to the match has been less turbulent, with no demonstrations announced, but the organized red-and-white fan base, through the Milano Brothers, has announced its intention to hold a panolada during the match.

The target was EuroLeague itself, which did not have the courage to exclude the two teams from the competition. In the last few hours, support has also come from Regional Councilor Luca Paladini, who has called on the police not to impose any form of censorship on the protests expected at the Unipol Forum in Assago.

The week, therefore, promises to be a heated one on this front.