AEK season-long fine with no home fans has been partially reduced / News - Basketnews.com

AEK Athens will play their Basketball Champions League home games with the partial closure of 80% of the AEK venue (Ano Liosia Olympic Hall) and have to pay a €50,000 fine.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

AEK Athens received a positive decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding their fine for the incidents during the FIBA Basketball Champions League quarterfinal against Hapoel Jerusalem.

In April, BCL announced that AEK would play all their home games behind closed doors and have to pay a €50,000 thousand fine.

However, CAS decided to lighten a penalty, announcing a partial closure of 80% during AEK home games in Ano Liosia Olympic Hall.

BCL statement:

Following the appeal of AEK to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the incidents that took place during the Quarterfinal game between AEK and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem on 12 April 2023 in Athens, the new sanction consists of:

The partial closure of 80% of the AEK venue (Ano Liosia Olympic Hall) for the duration of the 2023-24 BCL season. Any tickets to be sold by AEK shall be nominative season tickets.

The fine of €50,000 imposed by the First Instance Judge has been maintained.

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The incidents occurred during Game 2 in Athens.As it was documented by several Israeli news outlets, the Greek fans started throwing various things at the Israeli supporters. One of the fans was injured in the process,Tomer Givati from Israel Hayom writes.

AEK fans threw firecrackers at the opposing fans and started burning an Israeli flag, while several Palestinian flags were seen in the arena as well.

Israeli fans later responded with flares.BN Sports reportedincidents outside the arena as several loud bangs could be heard before the start of the second half. There were several attempts to break into the Hapoel stand,the Israeli journalist notes.

The game was stopped with a couple of minutes left in the second quarter. Initially, a fan evacuation was recommended, but the game was resumed.

Hapoel owner Eyal Chomsky said that the organization had to provide security for the team's fans.

The representative claimed he saw parents protecting and hiding their children in the toilets.

"This is an anti-Semitic attack against Jews and a very serious case of violence - and we demand that the attackers and the group be brought to justice," saidThe Minister of Culture and Sports of Israel Makhlouf Zohar

Meanwhile, AEK released a fiery statement condemning the people who performed the acts of violence.

Other related stories to the AEK-Hapoel incidents:

Israeli sports minister Zohar on AEK: 'This is an anti-Semitic attack' AEK fans start burning Israeli flag, throwing stuff at Hapoel fans AEK-Hapoel incidents: 'Father had to hide his children in a bathroom' AEK slam the hooligans that harmed Hapoel: 'They are enemies of AEK' Hapoel Jerusalem release a statement regarding AEK fans' behavior Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.