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Besiktas to Play Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europa League Match at Neutral, Empty Venue in Hungary

Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters shout profanities as they go down an escalator in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Michel Van Bergen/via Reuters)
Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters shout profanities as they go down an escalator in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Michel Van Bergen/via Reuters)
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Besiktas to Play Maccabi Tel Aviv in Europa League Match at Neutral, Empty Venue in Hungary

Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters shout profanities as they go down an escalator in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Michel Van Bergen/via Reuters)
Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters shout profanities as they go down an escalator in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 7, 2024, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Michel Van Bergen/via Reuters)

The Europa League match between Türkiye's Besiktas and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, scheduled for Nov. 28, has been moved to a neutral venue in Hungary, UEFA announced on Monday.

The match, originally a home game for Besiktas, will now be played at the Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary after the Turkish government opted not to host the tie.

The decision follows unrest after Maccabi’s recent Europa League game in Amsterdam, where at least five fans were injured in violent street attacks, after their team’s 5-0 loss to Ajax.

Besiktas said on social media that Hungary was the only country willing to host the match but, due to a decision by Hungarian authorities, the game will be held “behind closed doors”.

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Peace with Sinner: Tennis Fan Pope Leo XIV Meets with Top-Ranked Player During Italian Open Off-Day 

Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he plays against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina their men’s singles round of 16 match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. (EPA)
Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he plays against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina their men’s singles round of 16 match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. (EPA)
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Peace with Sinner: Tennis Fan Pope Leo XIV Meets with Top-Ranked Player During Italian Open Off-Day 

Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he plays against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina their men’s singles round of 16 match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. (EPA)
Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures as he plays against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina their men’s singles round of 16 match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. (EPA)

Pope Leo XIV has apparently made peace with Jannik Sinner.

The top-ranked tennis player visited the new pope on Wednesday, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play, during an off day for Sinner at the Italian Open, the Vatican said.

Leo, the first American pope, is an avid tennis player and fan and had said earlier this week that he would be up for a charity match when it was suggested by a journalist. But at the time, Leo joked “but we can’t invite Sinner,” an apparent reference to the English meaning of Sinner’s last name.

Sinner said it was “a good thing for us tennis players” that the new pope likes to play the sport.

The top-ranked player has a quarterfinal match on Thursday in his first tournament back after a three-month ban for doping that was judged to be an accidental contamination.

Sinner will next face either freshly crowned Madrid champion Casper Ruud or Jaume Munar. Sinner is attempting to become the first Italian man to win the Rome title since Adriano Panatta in 1976.