A Leuven mayor has refused to allow his city to host Israeli club Hapoel Beer-Sheva for a Europa League fixture, forcing Union Saint-Gilloise to search for an alternative venue for the match.
Union Saint-Gilloise are scheduled to host the Israeli champions on October 22, following the draw for the 36-team Europa League competition.
The Belgian league runners-up had hoped to stage all four of their home matches in Leuven because their own stadium in Brussels does not meet UEFA requirements for European competitions.
Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani announced on Monday evening that the city would not grant permission for the fixture to take place, citing concerns over public safety.
Ridouani said the decision would apply even if the match were played behind closed doors, indicating that the concerns were not limited to the presence of a large crowd.
The mayor also said the decision was consistent with Leuven’s existing position on matches involving Israel. He noted that the city had previously refused to allow Belgium’s national teams to play against Israel in Leuven.
UEFA confirmed on Tuesday that it had been informed of Leuven’s position regarding the Europa League fixture.
The European football governing body said the responsibility for finding another stadium lies with Union Saint-Gilloise, as the Belgian club is the designated home team.
“It’s the duty of the host club to find an alternative venue,” UEFA said, adding that the details of the replacement stadium would be announced in the coming days.
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The decision leaves Union with a limited window to secure a venue that meets UEFA requirements before the October 22 fixture.
Union had chosen Leuven as its preferred home venue because its own stadium in Brussels does not currently satisfy UEFA standards for European competition matches.
The club therefore planned to use Leuven for its home fixtures in the competition, but the mayor’s decision has disrupted those arrangements.
Union must now identify another stadium that can host the match and comply with UEFA’s operational and safety requirements.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of UEFA arrangements introduced following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.
Since then, Israeli clubs and national teams have been required to play their home matches in European competitions at neutral venues because of security concerns.
Hapoel Beer-Sheva have already experienced the arrangement this season. The Israeli champions played their home fixtures in Hungary and Romania during Champions League qualifying.
The club’s Europa League trip to Belgium will therefore take place under heightened attention, with Union Saint-Gilloise now responsible for finding a new venue.
UEFA said the replacement venue for the October 22 match will be confirmed in the coming days. Union will need to balance UEFA’s stadium requirements with local safety considerations as it searches for a suitable location.
The decision highlights the wider challenges facing European football clubs when fixtures involve teams from countries affected by ongoing security and political tensions.
