Amsterdam Mayor Pressured Dutch City to Ban Hapoel Be'er Sheva Fans
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema pressured Alkmaar to ban Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans.
- The decision was made by Alkmaar's security forum.
- Halsema feared a repeat of past fan violence.
- Alkmaar initially planned to allow the fans.
- Safety concerns were cited for the ban.
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema actively pressured her counterpart in Alkmaar, Anya Schoenmaker, to prevent fans of Israeli football club Hapoel Be'er Sheva from attending an upcoming Europa League match. The decision to ban the Israeli supporters was made by a security forum in Alkmaar.
Initially, Alkmaar's mayor intended to allow Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans into the city, even informing Amsterdam authorities that there was no immediate reason to deny their entry. However, this stance reportedly caused surprise and concern in Amsterdam.
According to the Dutch newspaper 'De Telegraaf', Amsterdam had previously shared intelligence, warnings, past experiences, and potential risks with Alkmaar on September 11th. Halsema feared a repeat of incidents in Amsterdam in 2024, where Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were attacked following a match against Ajax. Despite the game being in Alkmaar, she worried Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans might stay in Amsterdam.
Halsema requested to join Alkmaar's security forum, and a final decision was reached on Monday to prohibit Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans from attending. A spokesperson for the Alkmaar mayor stated, "We understand this feeling. We would have preferred to welcome Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans. But we must be able to guarantee the safety of the players and the fans."
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