Belgium’s main Jewish umbrella organisation has accused the city of Leuven of anti-Semitism after authorities blocked a Europa League football match involving Israeli club
Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
The match, scheduled for 22 October at Leuven’s Den Dreef stadium, was due to see Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise host the Israeli team. Union are unable to use their home ground, Duden Park in Brussels, because it does not meet UEFA requirements for European competition.
Leuven’s mayor announced on Tuesday that the fixture would not be allowed to go ahead in the city, citing concerns over public order and the potential for unrest linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Coordination Committee of Jewish Organisations of Belgium (CCOJB) strongly rejected the justification, describing the decision as an "expression of anti-Semitism".
The organisation said that concerns over security should not be used to prevent an Israeli team from participating in a European sporting event.
"Ensuring public safety is the responsibility of the mayor, and it is irresponsible to shift this burden," the CCOJB said in a statement issued on Thursday evening.
The organisation argued that the decision appeared to reflect hostility towards Israel rather than an unavoidable security requirement. It said the authorities should instead have focused on putting adequate security measures in place to allow the match to proceed.
The dispute comes as tensions surrounding Israel's war and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict continue to spill over into public life across Europe, including sporting events.
The Leuven decision has therefore become part of a broader debate over whether Israeli participation in international sporting competitions should be treated separately from political disputes involving the Israeli government.
Union Saint-Gilloise must now find an alternative venue that meets UEFA requirements if the fixture is to be played as scheduled.
The controversy also highlights the increasingly difficult task facing European cities and sports authorities as they seek to balance security concerns, political tensions and the principle of allowing clubs to compete in international competitions regardless of nationality.
The CCOJB has called on authorities to reconsider the decision and ensure that the match can take place under appropriate security arrangements. Photo by Joliennoens, Wikimedia commons.