Union Saint-Gilloise faces a venue search for its upcoming Europa League fixture against Hapoel Beer-Sheva after the mayor of Leuven, Mohamed Ridouani, officially blocked the match from taking place in his city. The game, scheduled for October 22 following last Friday’s 36-team draw, was intended to be held in Leuven because Union’s home stadium in Brussels fails to meet UEFA’s requirements for European competitions.
Mayor Ridouani stated on Monday that the city would not authorize the event “for the sake of public safety,” even if the match were played behind closed doors. He noted that this decision aligns with his previous stance of prohibiting Belgian national teams from hosting matches against Israel within the city.
Official UEFA Stance and Context
- UEFA Notification: The governing body confirmed on Tuesday that it has been formally notified of the city’s refusal to host the match.
- Club Responsibility: UEFA stated, “It’s the duty of the host club to find an alternative venue,” and confirmed that the updated location will be announced in the coming days.
- Regional Policy: Since the October 2023 Hamas attacks, UEFA regulations have required all Israeli clubs and national teams to play their home fixtures in neutral countries. While Hapoel Beer-Sheva has played recent Champions League qualifiers in Hungary and Romania, it remains highly unusual for an Israeli team’s away fixture to be relocated.
