Sarunas Jasikevicius, the head coach of EuroLeague basketball team Fenerbahçe, along with several other EuroLeague players and staff, are currently stranded in Dubai following the closure of UAE airspace, according to multiple reports.
The disruption, stemming from heightened regional tensions linked to the conflict in Iran, has impacted travel plans for numerous individuals connected to the EuroLeague. Fenerbahçe’s sporting director, Ugur Ozan Sulak, posted on social media stating that the team is “doing well” and hoping to be in Istanbul later this evening, expressing gratitude for the support received. He wrote, “Hepimiz iyiyiz. Biraz sonra Dubai’den kalkacak uçakta hep beraberiz ve bu gece İstanbul’da olabilmeyi umuyoruz. Desteğiniz ve mesajlarınız için teşekkürler.” (We are all well. We will all be on a plane departing from Dubai shortly and hope to be in Istanbul tonight. Thank you all for your support, and messages.)
Also affected are three players from Partizan, and Fenerbahçe team members, including Armando Bacotas and kineziterapeutas Jaime Capella Bouza. The team is scheduled to play Monaco in Istanbul this Thursday in a rematch of last season’s EuroLeague final.
The airspace closure is reportedly a precautionary measure amid escalating concerns about regional stability. While the exact nature of the threat remains unclear, the situation has created significant logistical challenges for those attempting to travel through the United Arab Emirates.
Fenerbahçe officials have indicated they are working to secure alternative travel arrangements to ensure the team arrives in Istanbul in time for their crucial match against Monaco. No further details regarding the team’s departure from Dubai have been released as of Tuesday afternoon.
