# Beşiktaş Europa League match venue dispute

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/beikta-europa-league-match-venue-dispute
> Updated: 2026-09-07T13:36:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Beşiktaş Football Director Önder Özen announced that the club would petition UEFA to host their Europa League match against Israel’s Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Istanbul. The club sought to secure home-field advantage, noting that Turkish teams have frequently been forced to play Israeli opponents at neutral venues due to security concerns.

UEFA subsequently decided that the match will be played at a neutral venue due to security concerns. The fixture, originally intended for Istanbul, is expected to be held in Batumi, Georgia. Beşiktaş officials expressed frustration with the decision, which follows previous precedents where matches against Israeli teams were relocated to neutral sites to meet strict security requirements regarding stadium surroundings and entry points.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-07: Beşiktaş Europa League match moved to Georgia due to security

Beşiktaş's Europa League match against Hapoel Beer Sheva will be moved to Batumi, Georgia, due to security concerns, according to UEFA regulations.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/beikta-europa-league-match-moved-to-georgia-due-to-security

### 2026-08-28: Beşiktaş to petition UEFA to host Hapoel Be'er Sheva match in Istanbul

Beşiktaş will apply to UEFA to host their Europa League match against Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Istanbul and faces logistical challenges for their away game against Omonia.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/beikta-to-petition-uefa-to-host-hapoel-beer-sheva-match-in-istanbul

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Cite as: Beşiktaş Europa League match venue dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/beikta-europa-league-match-venue-dispute