The Euroleague has become a geopolitical odyssey. Shaken for some time both by the invasion of Ukraine (the Russian teams, including CSKA Moscow, which is one of the competition's owners, were excluded in 2022) and by the conflict in the Middle East, the war in Iran has once again challenged the normal development of the top European club competition. Currently, with two teams from Israel and one from Dubai, everything is uncertain.
Pending further meetings, the first measure taken this Monday was to officially suspend two matches of this round, the 30th, due to "the current situation in the region and the consequent impossibility of traveling after the temporary closure of airspace." Both the Israeli derby between Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv (the Israeli league itself has been halted) and the duel between Partizan and Dubai were scheduled for this Thursday. The Euroleague will evaluate with the affected teams the best options to reschedule the matches, "closely following the latest events and maintaining constant communication with local and international authorities, as well as with all relevant organizations, to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved." Also suspended was the Hapoel-Paris match that was supposed to take place this Tuesday at Elías' Hand (a match that could not take place in December).
The conflict in Gaza already posed a logistical challenge. Until December, the Israeli teams could not play their matches in Tel Aviv. Maccabi spent their exile in Belgrade, and Hapoel, a newcomer to the Euroleague, in the Arena Botevgrad in Bulgaria. The paradox is that when they returned to their country (not without controversy), both were able to play their matches in their arenas, with fans in the stands. However, many of those who played away games (including Barcelona and Madrid) did so with empty stands due to security measures. A sporting advantage that many complained about.
"Russian teams have not played in the Euroleague for the last four years, and now, with the situation of the Israeli clubs, how will relations affect matches between the Turkish teams and them? The rest of the season is at risk," protested Partizan's president, Ostoja Mijailovic, who also had to deal with the issue that several of his players were trapped in Dubai, where they were on vacation (Dylan Osetkowski, Duane Washington, and Shake Milton). "We are in constant communication with them, and they are safe. We thank the club there for their willingness to allow them to train. I cannot assess when they will return because it would not be professional, but we have been promised that a charter will be arranged with the Dubai Basketball boys going to Oman. But it is unknown when," he clarified.
They are not the only ones in trouble there. Sarunas Jasikevicius and two other members of Fenerbahçe (player Armando Bacot and Spanish physiotherapist Jaime Capella Bouza) also got stranded in the capital of the emirate. In Abu Dhabi, on the same Saturday that the US bombed Iran, the Next Generation tournament (for under-18 players) of the Euroleague was suspended. And since that day, all teams and their coaching staff have been waiting for the reopening of airspace, detained in their hotels. Among them, the young players from Real Madrid and Valencia. "Super proud of all these kids, and I'm not talking about sports (which too), in special situations, special people appear, and they are," wrote Real Madrid's coach, Javi Juárez, on his social media.
Although the Euroleague is the top continental competition, this season saw its borders expand with the inclusion of Dubai Basketball, a team that was founded in 2023 and signed a contract in exchange for a high amount of money (never specified) until 2030. To make room for them, the competition expanded from 18 to 20 teams. Dubai, which plays its matches at the Coca Cola Arena (17,000 spectators), also competes in the Adriatic League (ABA), where teams from the former Yugoslavia countries play.
Like most sports, basketball has also succumbed to the economic charm of Arab countries. The last Euroleague Final Four was held in Abu Dhabi. And the next World Cup will be played in 2027 in Qatar, the country of the current FIBA president, Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani.