Violence and hooliganism are not uncommon at European-level football matches, nor are occasional orders that games should take place in neutral venues, behind closed doors or with certain fans banned from attending for safety reasons.
The war in Gaza, though, has politicized such decisions as they relate to Israeli clubs, at the same time as exacerbating tensions around the visits of Israeli fans to some parts of Europe.
In Amsterdam in November 2024, supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv were involved in violence across the city before and after a match with Ajax, with dozens of arrests and several people hospitalized.
Keeping boisterous groups of opposing teams’ football fans away from each other and under control is already a challenge for police, and adding the potential for political, antisemitic and racist provocation into the mix stretches their ability to keep the peace.
“We have full confidence in the Belgian security authorities and their ability to ensure that a football match can take place safely and securely,” said the Israeli embassy in Brussels. “Should assistance be required, Israel would be happy to provide it.”
This is not the first time Belgian authorities have blocked a match involving an Israeli team on security grounds. In 2024, Brussels refused to host Belgium’s Nations League game against Israel, citing the risk of major demonstrations and counter-demonstrations. The game was eventually moved to Debrecen, Hungary, and played behind closed doors. Ridouani had also previously refused to allow both the Belgian women’s and men’s national teams to play Israel at Leuven’s Den Dreef stadium.