Growing Tensions Ahead of Basketball Clash Between La Laguna Tenerife and Bnei Herzliya

Three weeks remain until the Champions League basketball clash between La Laguna Tenerife (CB Canarias) and Israeli team Bnei Herzliya, and tensions are running high following protests during the Vuelta a España cycling event and the political repercussions in the Canary Islands.

Rejection and Concerns

Gran Canaria made headlines weeks ago by announcing it would not host the Vuelta should the Israel-Premier Tech team continue to compete. The Tenerife Cabildo has not been as definitive but has stated it will not support the event if it contributes to security concerns and negative public perception. In La Laguna, Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez declared that the cycling peloton would not pass through the municipality if the island council ultimately allowed the event with the Israeli team.

Following this announcement from the mayor, various voices pointed towards the forthcoming basketball match between the aurinegro team, sponsored by La Laguna, and Bnei Herzliya, scheduled for 14 October at the Santiago Martín pavilion.

Planned Protests

Under this pressure, the supporters’ groups of Canarias are considering staging a protest prior to the game against what the UN describes as genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza. They will urge that tickets not be sold. Jafet Ravelo, president of the Pollos Amarillos supporters’ group, confirmed to Atlántico Hoy that they will put the matter to a vote to decide whether the protest will be organised by the group or conducted individually by its members.

More cautiously, Jorge García, president of the San Benito group, emphasised that the club “must take a stance” on the issue and that it is not within their power to “force the suspension of the match.” García acknowledged it is “a very delicate matter,” and the group “has not yet made a decision.” Ravelo added that he is aware some members of the group will not attend the game as a condemnation of the Israeli operation in Gaza. Moreover, Pollos Amarillos have requested the club, as confirmed to Atlántico Hoy by their president, not to sell tickets to Israeli fans, similar to the stance Valencia Basket is considering for their game against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Security Arrangements

Regardless, it is still early to ascertain all the details regarding the security arrangements for the match. This Tuesday, the National Police convened with representatives from the aurinegro club and the supporters’ groups, informing them that it would be approximately two weeks before they would receive precise details on what actions would be permitted or prohibited during the match. Nonetheless, both supporters’ groups are aware that no protests will be allowed inside the pavilion, hence they do not intend to pursue such actions there.