Maccabi Tel Aviv has officially requested permission to play its home EuroLeague matches in Cyprus after being forced to relocate its fixtures due to security concerns.
According to a report by Cypriot sports website CyprusBasket.net, the Israeli club is very close to designating Cyprus as its official home venue for the upcoming European basketball season.
The initiative progressed following a meeting held on the sidelines of the Neofytos Chandriotis pre-season basketball tournament, where Maccabi Tel Aviv chairman Shimon Mizrahi met with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.
During their discussions, Mizrahi expressed the club's strong interest in hosting its continental games on the island. Maccabi subsequently sent a formal letter to President Christodoulides to confirm its intentions, a request that received a positive response from Cypriot authorities.
Belgrade relocation and Cyprus options
Maccabi Tel Aviv, historically referred to as the team of the people in Israel, had previously selected Belgrade, Serbia, as its temporary home base for EuroLeague matches after being compelled to move fixtures away from Tel Aviv.
Founded in 1932, Maccabi Tel Aviv is one of the most decorated clubs in European basketball history, having won six EuroLeague titles. The EuroLeague represents the highest tier of professional basketball competition in Europe, featuring 18 elite teams from across the continent.
Although Cyprus is now expected to host the matches, sports officials have not yet finalized the specific arena. Two venues are currently under consideration: the Spyros Kyprianou Athletic Center in Limassol and the Tassos Papadopoulos Eleftheria Indoor Hall in Nicosia.
Impact on Cypriot basketball
Limassol is a major coastal city in southern Cyprus, where the Spyros Kyprianou venue stands as the island's largest indoor sports facility. Nicosia, the Cypriot capital, houses the Eleftheria arena, which regularly hosts national and international sporting events.
If the agreement is formally concluded, the move will represent a landmark milestone for Cypriot sports. Hosting Maccabi Tel Aviv will bring several of Europe's top basketball clubs and premier players to compete on Cypriot soil for the first time in EuroLeague history.
