Amsterdam Mayor Pressured Dutch City to Ban Hapoel Be'er Sheva Fans

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema reportedly exerted significant pressure on 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, with Halsema's intervention playing a key role, according to Dutch media reports.

Initially, Alkmaar had intended to allow Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans into the city and had communicated this to Amsterdam authorities, stating there was no immediate reason to deny entry. However, this stance reportedly caused surprise and concern in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam officials, citing "information, warning signals, past experience, risks and potential risks for Amsterdam" provided to Alkmaar on September 11, feared a repeat of incidents involving Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam in 2024. Despite the match being scheduled for Alkmaar, Halsema was concerned that Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans might stay in Amsterdam, potentially leading to security issues.

Following Halsema's concerns, she requested to join Alkmaar's security forum. A final decision was reached on Monday to prohibit Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans from attending the game. A spokesperson for the Alkmaar mayor stated, "We understand this feeling. We would have preferred to welcome the Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans. But we must be able to guarantee the safety of the players and the fans."