Besiktas vs Maccabi Tel Aviv game might be played at neutral venue, Israeli media reports

After overcoming Lugano in the playoff round, Besiktas has secured a spot in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. The Turkish club’s opponents for this phase have now been confirmed.

One of Besiktas’s designated home opponents is the Israeli team, Maccabi Tel Aviv. However, it is currently under discussion that the Israeli side may request to play the match at a neutral venue rather than in Istanbul.

According to reports from the Israeli media outlet Walla, the Besiktas-Maccabi Tel Aviv clash is likely to take place at a neutral location. The reports state, “It appears unlikely that the Besiktas-Maccabi Tel Aviv match will be held in Istanbul. The game will be played at a neutral venue.”

As a result, Maccabi Tel Aviv is expected to apply to UEFA for permission to play their match against Besiktas at a neutral venue instead of Istanbul.

Türkiye’s stance against Israel

This development comes amid heightened tensions due to Israel’s recent attacks on Palestine, which have sparked reactions in Türkiye. In light of these tensions, the Israeli government is reportedly concerned about the safety of its teams traveling to Türkiye.

Similar previous examples

Meanwhile, this situation is not without precedent. In basketball, Turkish teams have previously played their Israeli counterparts at neutral venues.

Galatasaray and Bursaspor Info Yatirim, competing in the FIBA Champions League, played their matches against Israeli teams in Bosnia and Herzegovina instead of Türkiye.

In the EuroLeague, Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce Beko’s scheduled games against Maccabi Tel Aviv, which were initially set to take place in Istanbul, were relocated to a neutral country by EuroLeague officials.