Cyprus police are on full operational alert ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first EuroLeague game in Limassol on Thursday, a derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv that the situation in the Middle East makes particularly sensitive to police.
The Israeli club will use the Spyros Kyprianou indoor arena in Limassol as its home venue for the EuroLeague. Police preparations are in their final stage. Because the security plan takes account of the situation in the Middle East, and in Israel in particular, it also assesses the possibility of a serious threat and includes stepped-up preventive measures.
The plan has two main aims. The first is to ensure the games pass off without trouble, harassment or other unlawful acts. The second is to prevent and deal with any possible threat. Philenews understands that table-top exercises have been held and possible scenarios assessed so that police can respond immediately to any incident.
Policing will cover the teams’ and fans’ entire stay in Cyprus, not only match times. Police will escort the visiting delegations from their arrival through their hotel stays and trips to the arena, until the games end and they leave safely. The focus is on preventing clashes between fans, deterring provocation and handling any protests or demonstrations held around the games.
Arena under police guard
Police will take over the arena the day before each game to carry out checks on the facilities. It will then stay under police guard until the game is over and both fans and teams have left. Teams will be allowed in to train, subject to the required checks.
Cyprus police will bear sole responsibility for policing and security at the games, although the Israeli club’s own security staff will also be present. The situation will be coordinated and assessed continuously throughout all the games.
Tickets and seating
Tickets will be available only in electronic form, and buyers will have to verify their identity through a dedicated platform. Checks at the entrances will be strict and will use special devices and technology, so that no person or item that could threaten security gets into the arena.
The plan allocates 3,000 seats to Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, 1,500 to the Cypriot public and 100 to fans of each visiting team.
Officers from several police units will take part, including the Rapid Response Motorised Unit (MMAD), the intelligence services, Limassol’s police directorate, the police headquarters traffic division and riot control platoons. Specially trained dogs and drones will also be used as part of the heightened surveillance and security measures.
Crisis management centres will operate both at the arena and at Limassol police headquarters, to coordinate the services involved and assess any incident immediately.
