Alba Berlin vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv: Basketball with police protection

You want to ignore the surrounding circumstances – and yet you know that this may not be possible. “The players are trying to concentrate on the sport,” says co-captain Jonas Mattisseck of Bundesliga basketball team Alba Berlin. “Of course you have respect for it, but you try not to let it get to you too much.”

No, it is not a normal game that will be played this Thursday evening (8 p.m., live on Magenta TV) in Berlin’s Uber Arena. It’s a basement duel in the Basketball Euroleague. But more than that, it is a basketball game that will take place under exceptional safety precautions for the sport. The area surrounding the multifunctional hall in the Friedrichshain district becomes a fortress. Because the opponent is called Maccabi Tel Aviv – and that causes alarm among the Berlin police leadership.

The pictures from the Netherlands from the beginning of November are too present. On the sidelines of the Europa League football game between Ajax Amsterdam and the Maccabi football department (5-0), criminals of Arab origin in particular caused ugly scenes. They chased supporters of the Israeli team through the city, punching, kicking and injuring dozens of them. “They waited in groups on every corner, and as soon as they recognized Jews, they chased them,” a fan said on television afterwards. There was then talk of “unacceptable anti-Semitic attacks” and a “pogrom in the streets of Amsterdam”. The images – as well as the horror – went around the world.

The Berlin security authorities want to prevent scenes like this at all costs. The security situation in the capital has been tense since Hamas attacked Israel more than a year ago. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march across the streets almost every day, and anti-Semitic slogans are now part of everyday life. The police repeatedly have to break up rallies because of criminal offenses. And just recently, Berlin’s police chief Barbara Slowik caused a stir and outrage with a statement that Jews could not feel safe everywhere in the city: “However, there are areas – and we have to be honest at this point – where I would people who Wearing a yarmulke (…), advises you to be more attentive.”

With “They’re shitting themselves. You know what to do” or “what Amsterdam can do, we can do even better,” the “Berliner Zeitung” quoted Israel’s enemies on social media in the run-up to the basketball game – threats that the Berlin police also registered.

In view of this mixed situation, it wants to ensure the safety of fans and players of the Israeli champions with a large contingent and a number of other measures. Anti-Israel riots should be nipped in the bud. The planning of the operation under the leadership of the experienced top official Markus van Stegen has been going on for weeks. “We will show our presence publicly. That means we will be present in the hall with emergency services and support the law enforcement officers,” a police spokesman announced to the DPA news agency.

There are police barriers around the Uber Arena on the banks of the Spree and the Maccabi team hotel in Mitte, and officers are patrolling the area. The area around the hotel may only be accessed by residents and other authorized persons, such as employees. The police check the relevant identification and evidence. Cars and bicycles, as well as garbage cans, are not allowed to be parked around the hotel and arena.

There is also a strict ban on knives and weapons. “In the event of violations of the ban, the immediate seizure and destruction of the knives and dangerous objects carried is announced and the use of direct force, if necessary, to enforce the measures is threatened,” says the general order from the police, which is valid until midnight. Gatherings and demonstrations are prohibited around the critical points. None had registered as of Wednesday. Given the security situation, it goes without saying that the Maccabi Tel Aviv team is guarded by police around the clock.

In the run-up to the game, the police also conducted so-called threats to potential violent criminals. Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) said via X that they were also banned from visiting the hall. “The safety of everyone involved is our top priority.”

For tactical reasons, the police will not reveal how many officers will be on duty in the evening. The Berlin media are talking about more than 1,500, plus the security service in the arena.

The protective measures also affect all peaceful visitors to the high-risk game. “Due to the increased security precautions, we ask that you arrive early on Thursday evening,” said Alba Berlin. Hundreds of tickets were still available on Thursday morning.

Despite the tension among the police, there is a good sign: Alba and Maccabi already faced each other in Berlin in February. The home team lost by a clear score of 71:106, but at least no major incidents were reported during the game. Hopefully sport could be the focus on this Thursday evening.