Belgian mayor blocks Hapoel Beersheba Europa League match over alleged safety concerns

Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani has prohibited Hapoel Beersheba's Europa League match against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise from being held in the Belgian city on October 22, citing public safety concerns. Ridouani stated, "For reasons of public safety, I announced that this match also cannot take place in Leuven," and clarified that even playing without spectators would not mitigate the risk. This decision follows a previous instance where he refused to host a match involving the Israeli women's national team. The Belgian club, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, is currently in discussions with relevant parties to find an alternative solution. This incident occurs amid broader concerns about the safety of Israeli fans, with pro-Palestinian organizations in the Netherlands also opposing Hapoel Beersheba's upcoming match against AZ Alkmaar.