Belgian mayor blocks club from hosting Israeli opponent in Europa League | Football News
A Belgian mayor has denied permission for Hapoel Beer-Sheva to compete in a Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise in Leuven, necessitating a search for a new venue for the game.
Union Saint-Gilloise, which participated in the UEFA Champions League last season, is scheduled to host the Israeli club on October 22 following last week’s draw for the 36-team Europa League.
The Belgian league runners-up had aimed to conduct all four of their home matches in Leuven due to their own stadium in Brussels failing to meet UEFA requirements for European competitions.
Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani stated on Monday that the decision was made “for the sake of public safety,” reiterating that the city has previously not permitted Belgium’s national teams to play matches against Israel within its jurisdiction.
UEFA acknowledged on Tuesday that it had been informed of the city’s stance regarding the upcoming Europa League game. The governing body emphasized that it is the host club’s responsibility to secure an alternative venue, with the change expected to be announced in the coming days.
Since the escalation of violence in Israel following Hamas attacks in October 2023, Israeli club and national teams have been required to play their home matches in neutral countries. Hapoel Beer-Sheva has previously hosted its home matches in Hungary and Romania during this season’s Champions League qualifying rounds. It is uncommon for away games involving Israeli teams to be relocated.
