Leuven mayor bans Europa League match with Israeli club
Mohamed Ridouani, the mayor of the Belgian city of Leuven, has banned the UEFA Europa League match between Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise and Israel’s Hapoel Be’er Sheva from being held in the city. As Politico Europe reports, the decision was made due to security concerns and the risk of protests related to the war in Gaza.
Security concerns
Ridouani told Belgian broadcaster VRT that the decision was not directed against Israel and had no antisemitic motives. According to him, the city authorities cannot guarantee security during the match. The mayor also categorically rejected the possibility of holding the game without spectators.
The war in Gaza has heightened tensions around matches involving Israeli football clubs in Europe. In November 2024, violent incidents occurred in Amsterdam before and after Ajax’s match against Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv. Dozens of people were detained at the time, and several were hospitalized.
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The club will look for another venue
This is not the first time Belgian authorities have restricted matches involving Israeli teams due to security risks. In 2024, Brussels refused to host a Nations League match between the national teams of Belgium and Israel because of the likelihood of large-scale demonstrations and counter-demonstrations. The game was moved to Debrecen, Hungary, and held without spectators.
Earlier, Ridouani also did not allow Belgium’s men’s and women’s national teams to play against Israel at the Den Dreef stadium in Leuven. Union Saint-Gilloise is playing its home matches there this season because its stadium in Brussels does not meet UEFA requirements. The club must now find another venue for its home game scheduled for October 22.
