Now it is official: Maccabi Tel Aviv has announced that it is moving its EuroLeague home games to Limassol, Cyprus. Having already secured EuroLeague approval, the Yellows will relocate from Belgrade - where they have hosted most of their European fixtures since October 7 - to the neighboring island, a shift expected to allow significantly larger fan attendance.
Oded Kattash’s squad will make its Limassol debut on Thursday in the high-stakes derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Addressing the venue shift, the EuroLeague stated: "Israeli teams are currently playing their home games in alternative venues, in accordance with the current situation in the region. This measure is intended to ensure the safety and security of players, staff members, and fans."
Cyprus's Minister of Justice and Public Order, Costas Fytiris, commented last month on why the request was approved after previous rejections.
"Requests of this nature are evaluated based on numerous factors. This time, it was decided to grant approval for holding the games," he said. "We will take all necessary measures to ensure the games proceed as scheduled without incident. I believe this is an opportunity for Cyprus to demonstrate that it is indeed a hub of stability, regardless of the identity of the competing teams."
Addressing potential upcoming matches featuring Turkish opponents Fenerbahce and Anadolu Efes, Fytiris added: "Naturally, all entry regulations to the Republic of Cyprus will be respected. Beyond that, if they choose not to come, that is their own matter."
While both the BDS movement and the Cyprus Peace Council urged the government to reject the Yellows' request, their appeals were ultimately turned down.