AEK Athens face travel nightmares ahead of Game 3 vs Hapoel Jerusalem / News - Basketnews.com

Travel agencies have denied requests by AEK, claiming that there are no vacant rooms or available buses that could transport the club from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The organization has contacted the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in hopes of finding a solution.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

After AEK Athens fans attacked Hapoel Jerusalem's supporters causing both basketball executives and government officials to react. With Game 3 of the series on the corner, the Greek team is now facing trouble getting to Jerusalem.

According to multiple reports in the Greek press, teams have an obligation to help each other with accommodation and travelling issues during the first two games of the playoffs series. However, such an obligation is no longer present if the clubs face off in the third and final game of the series.

AEK are now facing problems finding both the means of transportation to the Israeli city and a place where the players and the staff could live. As local reports indicate, travel agencies in Jerusalem are denying their request for service, saying that there are no vacant rooms they could offer, or that there are no buses available that could take the team from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Gazzetta.gr note that AEK are receiving backlash over the fan attack Hapoel fans received in Athens.

The club has contacted the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to find a solution with the idea that the government will cooperate with the Consulate of Greece in Jerusalem.

The Basketball Champions League (BCL) has already begun an investigation into the matter. The Minister of Culture and Sports of Israel Makhlouf Zohar called the fan attacks an anti-Semitic crime and called for the instigator to be brought to justice.

The Greek Deputy Minister of Sports Lefteris Avgenakis has condemned the behavior that transpired during the game.

"The absolutely reprehensible behavior of a few, who define themselves as sports fans but have nothing to do with sports, cannot harm the excellent relations maintained by the sports families of Greece and Israel. The unacceptable incidents in the Ano Liosia [arena] do not reflect Greek society. Every manifestation of anti-Semitism is condemned wherever it manifests itself," the operative said.

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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 reportincidents 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 Israeli clublater released a statementclarifying the discussions that were had between the organizations and the refereeing crew.

The burning of the Israeli flag:

Firecrackers being thrown at Hapoel fans:

AEK fans behaving violently:

Experience of one Israeli fan:

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