Leuven mayor bans Europa League match against Israeli team

Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani has refused to allow a UEFA Europa League match between Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise and Israeli team Hapoel Be’er Sheva from taking place in the city, citing security concerns. The decision was not driven by opposition to Israel or antisemitism, but by worries over public safety and the potential for protests stemming from the ongoing war in Gaza. Mayor Ridouani emphasized that safety could not be guaranteed, and rejected the idea of hosting the match behind closed doors.

The mayor's stance comes in the wake of past incidents involving Israeli teams in Europe, such as a violent incident in Amsterdam during a match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in November 2024, which resulted in dozens of arrests and several hospitalizations. Belgian authorities have also previously blocked matches involving Israeli teams due to fears of major demonstrations and counter-demonstrations, as seen in Brussels' decision to move a Nations League game against Israel to Debrecen, Hungary, and play it behind closed doors in 2024.

Ridouani's decision is not limited to Israeli clubs, as he had also previously denied permission for the Belgian national teams to play Israel at Leuven's Den Dreef stadium. This isn't the first time Belgian authorities have blocked matches involving Israeli teams on security grounds. Lastly, U.K. club Aston Villa faced similar political controversy when they were told by local authorities not to allow away supporters to attend a match against Israeli champions Maccabi in October 2025, ultimately preventing any potential disorder.

Hapoel Be’er Sheva, despite not having a history of hooliganism as notorious as Maccabi Tel Aviv, plays near the Gaza strip, which adds to the political tensions surrounding the match. Union Saint-Gilloise will now have to find an alternative venue for their home match scheduled for October 22.