By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Updating the status of AEK’s home fixtures throughout the 2023-24 edition of the Basketball Champions League switches the initial sanction of playing all games without fans to a partial closure of 80% with fans in attendance corresponding to nominative season tickets.
The BCL relayed the decision Monday. The alteration was the result of the team based in Athens appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Per the press release: “Following the appeal of AEK to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the incidents that took place during the Quarter-Final game between AEK and Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem on 12 April 2023 in Athens, the new sanction consists of:
a. the partial closure of 80% of the AEK venue (Ano Liosia Olympic Hall) for the duration of the 2023-24 BCL season
b. 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.”
In confirmation and adding more notes, AEK also shared the decision on social media.
Among the lasting originals of the Champions League, the Queen returning for an eighth campaign was recently drawn in Group D of the Regular Season along with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari, and King Wilki Morskie Szczecin. Navigating the double-legged round-robin schedule, the three home games will be contested under the adjusted restrictions. Potentially advancing through the Regular Season, the same would apply to any fixture set in the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League