Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball game in Bologna to stay put despite security fears

A basketball game in Italy between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Virtus Bologna is set to go ahead as scheduled Friday evening at the city’s PalaDozza arena, despite the Bologna mayor’s request to have the game moved to  a different venue, though in the same city, due to security concerns.

Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore told local media last week he was concerned that pro-Palestinian protesters would stir up violence in the center of the historic city, where the game will be played. He had suggested earlier that the game be moved to the city’s Unipol Arena, which is located less centrally than PalaDozza. However, that arena was already booked over the weekend with events including a Radiohead concert.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has ruled out a schedule change, saying: “It’s not the usual troublemakers who can dictate the agenda of events in Italy.”

“It’s a dangerous game, but it will be played,” Lepore tells local media. He called on protesters “not to come and destroy the city, because it’s not good for the Palestinian cause or for peace.”

Anti-Israel protesters have disrupted numerous sports competitions in recent months, including a soccer World Cup qualifier in Udine, Italy, last month and the Vuelta a España cycling race in Spain in September.

Two weeks ago, a soccer match in Birmingham banned Israeli fans from attending out of fear of fan violence.