Badalona basketball game against Israeli team to be held behind closed doors

The FIBA Champions League basketball game between Joventut de Badalona and Israel's Hapoel Holon scheduled for Wednesday will be played behind closed doors for security reasons and "in light of planned demonstrations," the Catalan club announced.

Pro-Palestinian groups had called for protests outside the Olympic Arena in Badalona from 7pm, ahead of the 8.30pm tip-off, in an effort to prevent the match from taking place.

"This isn't a game like any other because it's against a team representing a colonialist state," said Ximena Silva, spokesperson for the Badalona Platform Against Genocide.

Another group, the Stop Complicity Coalition, urged the public to take action at every match until Israeli teams are excluded from international sport. 

The groups argue that Israeli teams should be banned from international competitions due to the "regime of colonialism and apartheid" imposed on Palestine, which even restricts "the right to participate in sports." Silva noted that during Israel's attacks, hundreds of Palestinian athletes have also been killed.

Israel wants to participate in international competitions to present itself as "a normal country," explained Alys Samson of the Stop Complicity Coalition.

Meanwhile, she added, "they are committing genocide against an entire people."

Samson criticized the fact that Israel has not faced the same sanctions as Russia, which has been barred from competitions.

Safety concerns

Joventut de Badalona justified the decision to play behind closed doors, citing authorities' recommendations and the need to ensure the safety of fans. The club asked for supporters' understanding and stressed that the measure is "entirely outside the club's control."

Last month, there were protests in Barcelona and Manresa ahead of a fixture between Baxi Manresa and Hapoel Jerusalem, also held behind closed doors.