Hungarian Energy Crisis May Force Time Change or Postponement of Be'er Sheva vs Red Star Belgrade Match

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to face Red Star Belgrade in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. The match, originally scheduled for 19:30 local time in Hungary (20:30 Israel time), may be rescheduled or postponed due to an unusual energy crisis in Hungary. The Hungarian Football Federation announced that starting immediately and for an indefinite period, all matches must begin early enough to avoid using electric lighting, with the latest kickoff time set at 17:30 local time. If the match time cannot be adjusted accordingly, the game will be postponed.

This decision stems from critically low water levels in the Danube River, which are impacting the cooling systems used in electricity production, leading to power supply difficulties. The federation emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in reducing energy consumption and stated that this measure aligns with broader societal efforts to manage the crisis and prevent more severe consequences. The energy shortage directly affects the scheduling of football matches, including this key Champions League qualifier involving the Israeli club Be'er Sheva.