By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Partizan Mozzart Bet president Ostoja Mijailovic has addressed the alarming situation in the Middle East, predicting that the club’s matchup against Dubai in Round 30 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season will be officially suspended. Speaking to Uranak1, he confirmed that Dylan Osetkovski, Duane Washington Jr., and Shake Milton are currently stranded in the United Arab Emirates. While the trio traveled to Dubai for a short vacation, a choice the team president defended as their right, they are now unable to return to Serbia due to severe regional travel disruptions.
As stressed by Mijailovic, the issue extends beyond Partizan, with 14 EuroLeague players and coach Sarunas Jasikevicius also currently stuck in Dubai. “Our players are in constant contact with the club, and I want to thank Dubai for allowing them to train there,” he explained, “but as a result, the game against Dubai will definitely be postponed.”
The Serbian executive expressed grave concerns regarding the physical and psychological safety of athletes across the continent. He pointed out the geopolitical inconsistencies within the sport, noting, “Russian clubs have been excluded from the EuroLeague for four years now, yet we currently see a situation where two clubs from Tel Aviv are flying out to compete. One must wonder what will happen to the Turkish and Israeli clubs now that war has broken out, especially regarding the psychological toll on the players. Unfortunately, this mirrors the hardships of 1992, when Partizan was forced to navigate the EuroLeague under similar wartime conditions.”
Mijailovic also warned that the integrity of the 2025-26 schedule is now at a breaking point. “The remainder of the season is in doubt. Security must take priority, and I pray that everyone returns home safely,” he stated. Emphasizing that the ball is now in the Euroleague Basketball’s court, he noted that the club is awaiting urgent instructions regarding the competition’s future.