{"id":147015,"date":"2025-11-22T11:44:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T11:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/147015\/"},"modified":"2025-11-22T11:44:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T11:44:10","slug":"italian-anti-israel-activists-clash-with-cops-outside-maccabi-tel-aviv-basketball-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/147015\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian anti-Israel activists clash with cops outside Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball game"},"content":{"rendered":"

Italian police clashed with some 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters Friday night outside a EuroLeague basketball game between Virtus Bologna and Maccabi Tel Aviv, which the guest team lost 89 to 99.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the game, the anti-Israel protesters gathered at Bologna\u2019s Piazza Maggiore \u2014 dubbed Piazza Gaza by organizers \u2014 and marched in the direction of the PalaDozza arena, chanting \u201cZionists out of Bologna,\u201d local media reported.<\/p>\n

As the game began in the arena, which was secured by some 400 officers, the protesters tossed stones, set fire to trash cans and ignited firecrackers, while police in riot gear responded with smoke bombs and water cannon blasts, according to local media. Calm was restored within minutes, the reports said.<\/p>\n

Footage from the scene showed protesters waving Palestinian flags and banners with anti-Israel slogans, including \u201cshow Israel the red card,\u201d a phrase borrowed from soccer that is used worldwide to call for the suspension of Israel from sporting events due to the war against Hamas in Gaza.<\/p>\n

On the ground were basketballs and soccer balls painted red with mock blood.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tGet The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition
\n\t\t\tby email and never miss our top stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n

The game went ahead at the PalaDozza Friday night after days of domestic controversy, with Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore calling for it to be held at a different time in a less central location due to the threat of protests, while Italy\u2019s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi ruled out a schedule change.<\/p>\n

Maccabi-Virtus, bombe carta e idranti in centro a Bologna. I manifestanti hanno lanciato anche oggetti trovati nei cantieri #ANSA<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6CcCdfmEGH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Agenzia ANSA (@Agenzia_Ansa) November 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Piantedosi, an independent civil servant considered close to hard-right Italian politician Matteo Salvini, had said ahead of the event that \u201cit\u2019s not the usual troublemakers who can dictate the agenda of events in Italy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Lepore, a member of the center-left Democratic Party \u2014 which currently sits in opposition to Italy\u2019s right-wing national government \u2014 ultimately caved, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s a dangerous game, but it will be played.\u201d<\/p>\n

He called on protesters \u201cnot to come and destroy the city, because it\u2019s not good for the Palestinian cause or for peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tA man holds a Palestinian flag at the Euro League basketball match between Virtus Bologna and Macabbi Tel Aviv in Bologna, Italy, November 21, 2025 (Flash90)<\/p>\n

In October, British soccer club Aston Villa announced that no Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would be allowed at a Europa League soccer match following a police risk assessment citing \u201cviolent clashes and hate crime offenses\u201d during a match in Amsterdam between Maccabi and local team Ajax last November.<\/p>\n

The decision sparked criticism, including from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who set about trying to reverse the move, but the Israeli club later announced it would decline tickets for its fans anyway, citing safety concerns. Signs were placed<\/a> near the stadium reading \u201cNo war games allowed\u201d and \u201cIf you see a Zionist call the anti-terror hotline.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tAnti-Israel signs seen ahead of an Aston Villa \u2013 Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer game in Birmingham, UK, November 6, 2025. (Screenshots via X, via Deen1fied on Instagram)<\/p>\n

Pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protesters have disrupted numerous sports competitions in recent months, including a soccer World Cup qualifier<\/a> in Udine, Italy, last month, and the\u00a0Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a cycling race<\/a>\u00a0in Spain in September.<\/p>\n

Calls for cultural and sporting boycotts on Israel have spiked amid the devastation of Gaza following the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, which sparked the war.<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\tWatch DocuNation Season 3: The Heart of Israel\t\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\t\twhen you join the ToI Community\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

In this season of DocuNation, you can stream six outstanding Israeli documentaries with English subtitles and then join a live online discussion with the filmmakers. The selected films show Israel beyond the conflict: a place of storytellers and musicians, of dreamers, makers, and communities rooted in meaning and trust.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Featured\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

When you watch DocuNation, you\u2019re also supporting Israeli creators at a time when it\u2019s increasingly difficult for them to share their work globally.<\/p>\n

To learn more about DocuNation: The Heart of Israel, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tSupport ToI and get DocuNation\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tSupport ToI and get DocuNation\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\tAlready a member? Sign in to stop seeing this<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\tYou appreciate our journalism\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re really pleased that you\u2019ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.<\/p>\n

Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7.<\/p>\n

So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you’ll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing\u00a0exclusive content\u00a0available only to Times of Israel Community members.<\/p>\n

Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel<\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJoin Our Community\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJoin Our Community\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\tAlready a member? Sign in to stop seeing this<\/a>
\n\t\t