Three of Israel’s top basketball teams — Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem — are awaiting a key decision from Cypriot authorities that could shape their participation in European competitions next season, according to Tomer Givati.
Due to ongoing security issues in Israel, the clubs have officially requested to host their home games in Limassol, at the Spyros Kyprianou Arena, one of the confirmed venues for EuroBasket 2025. The proposal, recently discussed at Cyprus Police Headquarters in Nicosia, includes an initial trial period with a limited audience of up to 1,000 fans.
However, the plan comes with significant logistical and financial challenges.
Cypriot authorities have made it clear that all operational expenses — including those related to security — must be fully covered by the Israeli teams. According to early estimates:
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A match behind closed doors would cost approximately €25,000
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A match with 1,000–2,000 Israeli fans would cost around €60,000
Security requirements would also be considerable:
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120 police officers for games without spectators
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315 officers for matches with fans
In addition to matchday measures, authorities have listed further security obligations:
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Armed escorts for transfers between the airport and hotels
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24/7 security at team accommodations
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Police presence during all movements, including training sessions and games
Officials emphasized that, given the political sensitivity of some matchups — especially those involving opponents from countries like Greece or Turkey — the full scope of required security cannot yet be precisely defined.
All findings and requests will be forwarded to the Cypriot Minister of Justice, who will make the final decision.
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