Alkmaar Mayor Cannot Guarantee Safety of Israeli Soccer Fans

The mayor of Alkmaar, Netherlands, has stated she cannot guarantee the safety of fans traveling from Israel for an upcoming Europa League match between her city's team and Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The mayor confirmed her support for banning Israeli fans from the game, citing a "high risk level" of potential violence and security concerns.

The Mayor of Alkmaar explained that the decision was made after receiving information from Amsterdam authorities. She emphasized that the city initiated the request for this information and that the decision was not imposed from outside. City officials, police, and prosecutors in Amsterdam reportedly warned that the situation surrounding the match against Hapoel Be'er Sheva is more serious than that which preceded violent incidents between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Many Israeli fans are expected to be in Amsterdam around the time of the game.

"Our people have learned from this that a charged encounter between football fans can create tension and even lead to provocations from fan groups and also other Dutch fans from different cities, and therefore we must take into account the lessons from this event. We have a responsibility to the city's residents," the Mayor of Alkmaar stated. She added that Alkmaar is responsible for ensuring the safety of all attendees at the match.