The initial two matches of the EuroLeague basketball quarter-final series, pitting Real Madrid against Hapoel Tel Aviv, will be held with reduced attendance and an intensified security apparatus. Among the measures implemented are mandatory ID checks for entry and a ban on visiting supporters.
Attendees for the games, scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, and Friday, May 1, at the Movistar Arena, will find the front rows of the pavilion empty. Furthermore, they must present their identification documents to gain access to the venue. Hapoel Tel Aviv fans will not be able to purchase tickets or enter the sports complex, which will also feature enhanced entry control and restrict access with fan paraphernalia to strictly sports-related items. Gates to the Movistar Arena will open earlier to manage crowd flow.
The security operation for these matches will involve approximately 450 police officers, supported by an augmented team of private security personnel. This decision followed a security coordination meeting held at the headquarters of the Government Delegation in Madrid, where police reports and assessments from the National Sports Office were reviewed.
“"In the current context, it has been decided to lower the risk level from high to medium for this type of matches, involving Israeli sports clubs within the framework of the conflict in the Middle East."
The Government Delegation has extended its gratitude to Real Madrid for its “willingness to collaborate and responsibility,” ensuring that the matches can proceed safely and in compatibility with the right to assembly for protesters gathering outside the venue. It is worth noting that previous matches involving Israeli teams in the capital were played behind closed doors, a measure criticized by the Community and the City Council of Madrid, who pointed to the delegation's “incompetence.”
