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Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius is among a growing number of European basketball figures stuck in Dubai after airports across the United Arab Emirates shut down amid ongoing travel restrictions in the region, leaving athletes unable to return to Europe ahead of upcoming fixtures.
The travel chaos has hit at least three major EuroLeague organizations. Beyond Jasikevicius, three Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade players, Dylan Osetkowski, Shake Milton, and Dwayne Washington, are stranded in the emirate. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv have also been caught up in the disruptions, with Lonnie Walker IV, Iffe Lundberg, and Jimmy Clark unable to leave Dubai.
Airports in the UAE, including both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, remain closed, with flights not operating in the region's airspace. The closures stem from the ongoing situation in the Middle East, though the precise timeline for reopening remains unclear.
According to Turkish sports journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Fenerbahce management is in constant contact with both Jasikevicius and the relevant authorities as efforts continue to bring the Lithuanian coach safely back to Türkiye. The club has said "everything is under control" and confirmed that Jasikevicius is waiting in a secure location.
The timing poses a potential scheduling headache for Fenerbahce, who recently defeated Partizan 81-78 and are set to host AS Monaco on Thursday. Whether Jasikevicius will be back on the sideline for that match depends on how quickly travel routes reopen.
Partizan and Maccabi Tel Aviv face similar concerns. With multiple players grounded in Dubai and no indication of when UAE airspace will reopen, the affected clubs may be forced to prepare for upcoming EuroLeague rounds without key members of their rosters. The situation remains fluid, with teams monitoring developments closely.
The EuroLeague, Europe's top-tier club basketball competition, is deep into its regular season, a stretch of the calendar where missed games or absent personnel can have significant implications for playoff positioning.
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