Valencia Basket: First Spanish Club to Allow Fans for Israeli EuroLeague Games

Valencia Basket has been the first to break the wheel. The norm in Spain, when a team received a visit from an Israeli rival, was to play the game behind closed doors. Until this Thursday. This day (starting at 8:45 p.m.) the Roig Arena will open its doors so that only its 11,500 subscribers can access it. No more tickets will go on sale and fans will not be able to give up their pass either: they must show up with their ID at the door. A precedent that will surely change the decision of other Spanish clubs.

Juan Roig’s club wanted to put an end to the grievance of playing without an audience against the Israeli teams. Valencia itself already suffered a defeat against Hapoel without the support of its fans and then had to travel to Jerusalem to face Maccabi, which that day had exceptionally left its headquarters in Tel Aviv, with the support of some fans who were very angry against the players. taronja and especially against his coach, Pedro Martínez, who has never hidden his discontent at having to travel to Israel.

The Euroleague lifted the ban on Israeli teams on December 1 after nearly 800 days of punishment for the Gaza massacre. Despite this decision, the Spanish teams, unlike the rest of the European clubs, held their meetings behind closed doors because it was the recommendation of the Spanish Government. Valencia, seeing that time had passed, understanding that the tension had lowered and tired of feeling at a disadvantage, both against the Israeli teams and the other European teams that did receive Hapoel and Maccabi sheltered by their public, has decided, after consulting with the Government delegation and asking the National Police if they would reinforce security this Thursday, to open the doors of the Roig Arena, but only for its subscribers. The entity taronjaIn addition, he will make an extra effort with a special device so that everything runs normally.

“The club will multiply efforts at all levels and take all necessary measures so that those who wish can enjoy the game normally,” reports from Valencia Basket, which will open access to the pavilion earlier than usual, three hours earlier in anticipation that the public’s entry will be slower than usual as they will have to identify themselves at the door. The match is considered high risk and, beforehand, protests from different groups are expected. On October 15, when Valencia received a visit from Hapoel, there were already police charges around the Roig Arena.