Brussels refuses hosting Belgium, 'Israel' match over security fears
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The Brussels city administration says it is concerned that the football match "will undoubtedly provoke large demonstrations and counter-demonstrations."
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People walk by banners hanging inside a window of an encampment, set up by pro-Palestinian students and activists at Ghent University, as students occupy parts of the campus in Ghent, Belgium, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP)
It is impossible to host the UEFA Nations League football match between Belgium and "Israel" scheduled for September 6 at the capital's stadium, the Brussels city administration pointed out on Wednesday, attributing the reason behind the decision to the tense situation in the Middle East, referring to the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.
"Taking into account the dramatic situation in the Middle East, the board of burgomasters and their deputies of the city of Brussels deemed it impossible to hold the match on its territory due to high risk," the administration said in a statement.
It explained that Brussels is concerned that the match "will undoubtedly provoke large demonstrations and counter-demonstrations, compromising the safety of spectators, players, Brussels residents, and also the police."
The administration recalled that the city's police had already faced the need to provide security amid demonstrations involving a significant number of people over the developments around the Gaza Strip.
Belgian Football Federation 'regrets' decision
In mid-May, the Belgian capital saw thousands of pro-Palestine protesters take to the streets demanding that the international community intervene to ensure a permanent ceasefire and an end to the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
The Belgian Football Federation (URBSFA) said it would have accepted that the match at the King Baudouin Stadium take place behind closed doors but it deeply regretted that the Belgian capital had refused to host the game at all.
"We deplore the decision taken by the City of Brussels – which has a lot of experience of organizing big events – to not organize the match in our stronghold," the federation said.
The federation said it was in contact with several cities and the security services about finding an alternative venue.
The city of Louvain has already said it would not host the match either.
This comes as the number of Palestinians killed since the start of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza has reached 37,396 martyrs, with 85,523 others injured.
Read more: Belgium's UGent severs ties with three Israeli institutions over Gaza
