Hapoel Tel Aviv’s last meeting took place behind closed doors on Wednesday. Following the recommendations of the authorities, the Spanish club Valencia decided to take this measure. This did not prevent pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the room. Five people were arrested in a country where the Palestinian cause is popular and gestures of solidarity have increased in recent weeks.
The closed session was not declared in Paris this Friday, even if this match against Hapoel Tel-Aviv, scheduled for 8:45 p.m. and counting for the 5th day of the Euroleague, this duel between the last two winners of the Eurocup, goes beyond the scope of basketball. Hosting a club from the Hebrew State is not insignificant in the current international context, despite the ceasefire concluded in Gaza a few days ago.
After Maccabi Tel Aviv, this is the second time this year that an Israeli club has come to play at the Adidas Arena, in the popular Porte de la Chapelle district. In mid-January, the meeting between Paris Basketball and Maccabi was classified 4 on a scale of 5 by decision of the National Division for the Fight against Hooliganism (DNLH) due to “proven risks of disturbances to public order linked to chronic disputes between supporters or to the proven presence of supporters at risk”.
“A privileged target for acts of a terrorist nature”
This time, the Paris Police Prefecture indicates that “in a context of very high current threat, this event is likely to constitute a privileged and symbolic target for acts of a terrorist nature”.
In January, the presence of several hundred armed police officers deployed to the nearest metro entrances had allayed the authorities’ main fear: unauthorized demonstrations around the Arena. These remain the main threat today. Especially since the Police Prefecture indicates that “certain activists of the Palestinian cause expressed strong hostility to the announcement of this match” in a press release.
Remember that ten months ago, another basketball match between Nanterre and Hapoel Holon was interrupted around ten minutes after the irruption of an activist with a Palestinian flag on the floor, followed by tensions with Israeli supporters in the stands.
No demands tolerated
To avoid this new type of incident this Friday, while the club has not communicated on specific security measures, no demands will be tolerated under penalty of immediate exclusion and possible criminal prosecution. A large security perimeter will be set up around the Arena from 5:30 p.m. and until 11:59 p.m. with traffic restrictions. No pyrotechnic objects, backpacks unless necessary, glass containers and any other dangerous objects will be admitted.
No flags, other than those supporting the two teams, will be allowed within this perimeter or in the room. This primarily concerns those in favor of the Palestinian cause who are banned. Drastic searches will be carried out at several points.
Until their entry into the Arena, the players’ bus and those of a few Hapoel supporters will be securely escorted to the parking lot located under it in order to avoid any contact with the rest of the public. In the room, Tel Aviv fans will no longer have the right to be as close as possible to the rest of the crowd. This is already what was implemented at the beginning of the year when the other team from the big city of Israel visited. And at the time, Paris Basketball had won peacefully.
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