Last Friday, an important meeting took place in Belgrade with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vu?i?, attended by Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club Chairman Shimon Mizrahi and one of the club’s owners, Danny Federman. Maccabi’s representatives gave the president a Maccabi jersey bearing his name and the number 1, as well as a framed ticket to the 1977 European Cup Final, which was held at the Pioneer Hall in Belgrade.
“I received the legendary president of Maccabi, the pride of Israel,” wrote President Aleksandar Vu?i?. “Shimon Mizrahi has been the president of this club for 56 years, one of the most respected figures in the basketball world and a Hall of Fame member. The guests expressed their gratitude to Serbia for the hospitality we provide to Maccabi and other Israeli teams during difficult times.” He further emphasized: “Serbia is a free country with no antisemitic sentiments—this has always been the case and will remain so in the future.”
“I would like to thank the president for the visit and for opening the door for Maccabi to be hosted in Serbia, as well as for other Israeli sports teams,” said Chairman Shimon Mizrahi. “We feel great friendship and appreciation for the president.”
