Davis Cup tie between Canada and Israel closed to fans in Halifax

Playing null of undefined

Public safety analyst discusses Davis Cup security

Spectators barred from Canada-Israel tennis match in Halifax

HALIFAX — The Davis Cup World Group I tie between Canada and Israel will be played in a closed venue this weekend in Halifax due to safety concerns, Tennis Canada announced Tuesday.

The organization said in a release that the decision was made in consultation with the International Tennis Federation due to “escalating safety concerns” flagged by local authorities and national security agencies.

It also comes after more than 400 Canadian athletes and academics, including Olympic runner Moh Ahmed, urged Tennis Canada to cancel the tie over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

Tennis Canada chief executive officer Gavin Ziv called the outcome “very disappointing” but said the safety of athletes, fans and staff takes top priority.

“At the heart of this difficult decision is our responsibility to protect people while ensuring that this Davis Cup tie can still take place,” Ziv said. “We were forced to conclude that playing behind closed doors was the only way to both safeguard those involved and preserve the event itself.”

The tie, which will be played on Friday and Saturday, was initially to be played at Scotiabank Centre. Tennis Canada says fans who purchased tickets will receive a full refund within 30 days.

“Roughly 1,500 tickets per day are being refunded,” a Tennis Canada spokesperson said. “As a not for profit, we’re still assessing the financial impact of this decision but it’s clear it will result in a significant loss of revenue for us.

“However, our priority has always been and remains the safety of people first. Playing behind closed doors is the only responsible option that allows the tie to go ahead while eliminating this risk.”

The spokesperson added that discussions of the tie possibly taking place in a closed venue began “in the last few weeks.” In addition, there will be no media allowed into the venue, with all player availabilities being hosted virtually.

Halifax Regional Police did not say whether threats were directed at the Israeli team, but said officers will be present at the event.

“Halifax Regional Police will have a presence in and around the event, supporting public safety. That said, for security reasons, we can’t provide any further operational details,” the statement said.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said it was disappointed the event had to be closed to fans.

“Cheering for Team Canada is part of what it means to be Canadian. Yet, a small group of extremists have hijacked the Davis Cup, silencing thousands of fans -- many of whom travelled from afar -- who simply wanted to show pride in their country,” the CIJA said in a statement.

“Tennis Canada’s decision was made to protect Canadians in the face of serious threats. It is unacceptable that hate, harassment, and intimidation have made it unsafe to support our athletes in our own country.”

This isn’t the first sporting event where calls have been made for an Israeli team to be suspended or an event it’s involved in to be cancelled.

The Italian Soccer Coaches’ Association said last month that it had written a formal letter calling for Israel to be suspended due to the war on Gaza before the two sides eventually met -- a 5-4 Italy win on Monday -- in a men’s World Cup qualifier in Hungary.

The tie is being broadcast on TVA Sports and CBC’s streaming services. The winner will advance to the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers.

Tennis Canada’s announcement comes a day after Montreal-based human rights group Palestinian and Jewish Unity asked Mayor Valerie Plante to bar the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team from competing in Sunday’s Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal.

With files from Emily Baron Cadloff in Halifax and The Associated Press.