Beitar Jerusalem fan unrest in Romania

In late July 2026 Romanian authorities prepared for a high‑risk UEFA Conference League tie involving Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem. After a previous incident, they announced extensive security measures – body searches, bans on alcohol and fireworks, and the possibility of denying entry to intoxicated or disorderly fans. On the eve of the match, a large group of Beitar supporters marched through Bucharest’s Old Town, brandishing torches and smoke bombs while chanting anti‑Palestinian slogans, prompting police intervention but no major disruption.

A week later, ahead of Beitar Jerusalem’s second qualifying‑round match against Austria Vienna, Romanian gendarmerie conducted preventive checks at Ilie Oană Stadium in Ploiești. Officers seized a backpack containing 50 pyrotechnic items and detained a supporter carrying suspect substances. A separate operation intercepted a taxi driver distributing additional pyrotechnic devices, including nitrogen cylinders. All seized materials were handed to prosecutors, and police reiterated the criminal status of pyrotechnics under Romanian law, emphasizing strict enforcement for the upcoming game.