The EuroLeague recently announced that home games for Israeli teams Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv could resume in Tel Aviv starting in December. While this news is a step toward normalcy for the league, it has also raised safety concerns, notably from Valencia’s head coach, Pedro Martinez.
In a recent media session, Martinez shared his mixed feelings about the decision. On one hand, he supports the idea of Israeli teams playing in their home arenas, but on the other hand, he and his team feel a sense of unease about traveling to the region.
😟 A Cautious Welcome
Pedro Martinez explained that, from a sports perspective, it is good that Maccabi and Hapoel can host games at home again. “We like this,” he said, noting that it’s better than playing in empty arenas. However, he quickly added that beyond the court, the situation is worrying. “When you see the news… we think that the situation is not normalized as we would like,” he stated, expressing that he and his team “aren’t very calm” about the prospect.
🤔 Questioning the Timeline
A key point of confusion for Martinez is the timing of the decision. He questioned the logic behind deeming it unsafe to play in Israel in late November but safe just ten days later in early December. “Why on November 25 is it not safe to play in Israel and on December 5 it will be?” he asked. He also pointed out that the officials who made this decision will not be the ones traveling, adding, “I would like to know why ten days later it will be safe.”
🏀 A Coach’s Perspective
Ultimately, Martinez clarified that his intention is not to create problems but to voice a genuine concern for his team’s well-being. He emphasized his role as a coach, focused on the sport and his players. “This is sports, we don’t want to be part of the problem,” he concluded. “We would like the situation to be normal, but if you ask me… we are not very calm.”
