The refusal of La Laguna’s mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez (PSOE), to host a final stage of the Vuelta Ciclista a España 2026 in Tenerife if an Israeli team participates clashes with the hosting of a European basketball match between CB Canarias and Bnei Herzliya, scheduled for 14 October at the Santiago Martín pavilion. Should the match proceed, he announced, “I will not be in the box,” confirming he has already communicated his position to the club and denied that these matters are comparable. He anticipates a response from the aurinegro team regarding “what decision they have made” in the coming weeks.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez clarified that in the case of the canarista club—of which the municipality he presides over is one of the main sponsors—it is a coincidence that these teams will compete “in a pure and fair draw,” while the cycling event’s invitation to the island came from “a representative of the Cabildo,” which he stated he “strongly opposes.” The mayor justified his stance by referencing the “overwhelming social support in La Laguna” for the people of Gaza, affirming that “we must not accept and whitewash” such behaviours.
No events since 1988
The councils of Tenerife (CC-PP) and Gran Canaria (Nueva Canarias-PSOE), along with the regional government (CC-PP), are negotiating and financing the conclusion of the Cycling Tour next year on both islands. This event has not been held in the Canaries since 1988. Following protests during the 2025 edition by pro-Palestinian groups that prevented its conclusion in Madrid, the Gran Canaria insular corporation announced last Monday that it would withdraw. Nonetheless, the first vice-president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Lope Afonso, reiterated the island administration’s interest in the sporting and promotional value of this competition, although he conditioned its being held on the island to guaranteed safety.
The PSOE is demanding that both the insular and regional governments reject the Vuelta if there is Israeli representation, a measure they will advocate for at the Cabildo and within Tenerife municipalities. Preceding this pronouncement, the La Laguna mayor, the socialist Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, highlighted the public exposure of the Basketball Champions League calendar, which showcased the upcoming presence of an Israeli club in La Laguna. Renouncing to play against Bnei Herzliya on 14 October at Santiago Martín would pose a serious risk of elimination from the BCL for CB Canarias. The primary penalty would be the loss of the match and the deduction of one point from the table, potentially removing the Tenerife team from the later stages of the tournament.
Consequences for CB Canarias
CB Canarias also faces a disciplinary sanction from FIBA ranging from €10,000 to €300,000, alongside being barred from competing for a title that, if won, could yield between €900,000 and €1 million for the club. Furthermore, they risk losing certain significant sponsorships, particularly concerning tourism promotion, notably from La Laguna City Council, Cabildo de Tenerife (via Tenerife Tourism), and the Government of the Canaries. Additionally, the institution presided over by Aniano Cabrera could be disqualified from the BCL for future seasons, thereby closing the door on another FIBA competition, the FIBA Europe Cup. The canarista entity refrained from making an official statement, considering that only the Basketball Champions League has the authority to make decisions on this matter.
Interestingly, just one day after CB Canarias hosts Bnei Herzliya, two other Israeli clubs will visit Spain. On Wednesday, 15 October, Valencia will face Hapoel Tel Aviv at the Roig Arena within the EuroLeague, while in the EuroCup, BAXI Manresa will compete against Hapoel Jerusalem. Valencia Basket is considering not selling tickets for the EuroLeague match against Hapoel Tel Aviv on 15 October, as it did for the third encounter in last season’s EuroCup semi-final against the Israeli team. “We have not made a definitive decision; we are aware of last season’s precedent when we opted not to sell tickets to ensure safety, preventing anyone from entering with motives other than enjoying basketball,” explained Valencia Basket’s general director, Enric Carbonell.
Rushing the decision
The controversy has also involved the President of the Government of the Canaries, Fernando Clavijo (CC), who lamented the political utilisation of the Vuelta Ciclista a España and the debates surrounding the hosting of two stages in the islands for the upcoming edition, despite uncertainty over the participation of an Israeli team. “Why are we rushing to be the first to wave a flag?” he asserted during a forum organised by the newspaper ‘El Mundo’, indicating that “we are caught up in political quarrelling, generating tension.”
In his view, Sánchez’s government seeks to “generate tension, polarise, divide, and inflame” regarding the Gaza conflict to distract from other issues. He stated that there is no one who does not condemn the “extermination of a people” and defended that “we must condemn it and work for international intervention.” However, he stressed the importance of not “inciting violent demonstrations and endangering the lives of athletes, protesters, and police,” as he believes occurred during the Vuelta stage last Sunday in Madrid.
