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Security concerns over Hapoel Be'er Sheva matches

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2026-10-13 09:45 UTC → 2026-10-21 22:35 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Security concerns regarding Europa League matches involving the Israeli club Hapoel Be'er Sheva have led to logistical challenges for European host clubs. In early September, local authorities in Belgium and the Netherlands expressed opposition to hosting the club. The mayor of Leuven, Mohamed Ridouani, refused permission for a match between Union Saint-Gilloise and Hapoel Be'er Sheva on October 22, citing “public safety”. Similarly, in the Netherlands, the Socialist Party in Alkmaar questioned the safety and resource drain of hosting a match against AZ Alkmaar. Following the ban in Leuven, Union Saint-Gilloise relocated its October 22 match to the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. The club announced the match will be played behind closed doors without spectators to meet security requirements. To address the change, the club is providing vouchers to affected fans. As the match approaches, the Israeli government has expressed concerns regarding the safety of its supporters, stating that fans should be allowed to attend and have their security guaranteed. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, AZ Alkmaar has decided not to admit away fans for Hapoel Be'er Sheva’s match. On October 21, ahead of the fixture in Düsseldorf, Union Saint-Gilloise entered the match with four points, while Hapoel Be'er Sheva held one point. Player Besfort Zeneli noted the unusual circumstances of the match, comparing the atmosphere to the period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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