Belgian City Mayor Bans Israeli Soccer Team Match Over Security Fears

The mayor of Leuven, Belgium, Mohamed Ridouani, has prohibited a UEFA Europa League match between Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise and Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva, scheduled for October 22, 2026, at the Den Dreef stadium. Ridouani cited significant security concerns and a high risk of public disorder as the reasons for his decision, announced in early September. City officials and police concluded that even a match played behind closed doors would not guarantee public order due to potential protests outside the arena, linked to the escalating situation in the Middle East.

This ruling has created a logistical challenge for Union Saint-Gilloise. The Brussels-based club's home stadium is not certified by UEFA for European competitions, forcing them to use alternative venues. With Leuven's refusal, the club must urgently find a new location. If no other Belgian city agrees to host the Israeli team due to similar security concerns, UEFA will likely move the game to a neutral country, a scenario previously employed.

Hungary is considered a probable candidate to host the match, having previously hosted similar "problematic" games. In 2024, Belgian authorities also refused to host a Nations League match against Israel, which UEFA then moved to Debrecen, Hungary.

Union Saint-Gilloise and the Royal Belgian Football Association are responsible for finding an alternative venue and must secure a safe stadium approved by football authorities for the game to proceed on its scheduled date and time. UEFA maintains its stance that Israeli teams' matches must adhere to the schedule, and if local municipalities cannot guarantee order, the organization will approve relocation to neutral grounds outside the host country. All costs for the alternative stadium and match organization will be borne by Union Saint-Gilloise.

The Israeli Embassy in Belgium criticized the decision, stating that sports should remain separate from politics and expressing full confidence in Belgian security forces' ability to prevent disturbances.