Leuven mayor blocks Europa League match with Israeli club

The mayor of the Belgian city of Leuven has refused to allow a Europa League football match between Union Saint-Gilloise and Israeli club Hapoel Beer Sheva to be played in the city, citing public safety concerns. The decision, announced by Mayor Mohamed Ridouani on September 1, means the Belgian club must now find an alternative venue for the fixture originally scheduled for October 22 at the Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven. Union Saint-Gilloise, based in Brussels, plays its European home matches in Leuven because its own stadium does not meet UEFA standards. The club had planned to host all four of its league phase home games in Leuven this season. However, Ridouani stated that the match against the Israeli team could not proceed there, even behind closed doors. "I consistently draw the line there. We cannot guarantee safety," Ridouani said, according to a report. He noted that allowing the game would risk people still flocking to the stadium area. The mayor's position is consistent with past decisions. Two years ago, a Belgium-Israel men's national team match was relocated to Hungary after Ridouani cited the risk of major demonstrations.