New Delhi: Israel’s Foreign Ministry is urging the Netherlands to lift a ban on Hapoel Be’er Sheva fans attending their team’s Europa League match against Dutch club AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.
Dutch authorities have banned Israeli fans from the match citing security concerns.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar raised the issue with his Dutch counterpart, Tom Berendsen. The ministry also held discussions with Dutch officials and the Alkmaar municipality, demanding that Hapoel Be’er Sheva fans be allowed to attend the match. It further said that safety will be ensured inside and outside the stadium.
According to The Athletic, Alkmaar authorities have classified the match as “very high risk” because of the geopolitical situation and concerns about possible protests and clashes between Israeli fans and demonstrators.
The violent clashes in Amsterdam in November 2024, following a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, was taken into account.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry and its embassy in The Hague said they would continue working with the Dutch government and Alkmaar’s mayor to ensure that Hapoel Be’er Sheva supporters are allowed to attend the match.
“The Israeli Embassy in The Hague also held talks with the police, and the mission maintained close contact with Hapoel Be’er Sheva representatives and the Israel Football Association on the matter,” the ministry said.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva, in a statement, said that it has repeatedly tried working with all parties involved, including FIFA and local authorities in the Netherlands, to reverse the ban, but to no avail.
“This is a regrettable step, but this decision is not in our control, and we have no choice but to apologize to the fans who planned to come and support us from the stadium,” the Israeli club wrote.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)