Authorities in the Dutch city of Alkmaar have barred fans of Hapoel Beersheba from attending Thursday's match against AZ Alkmaar, citing security concerns, and Israel's Foreign Ministry is demanding the decision be reversed.
European stadiums are generally required to set aside a section for away supporters, but ahead of the game, Alkmaar authorities said in a letter that the match carried a "very high risk due to the geopolitical context." As a result, Hapoel Beersheba fans will not be allowed into the stadium, according to a report in The Athletic cited in the letter's contents.
The letter pointed to concerns about possible demonstrations and confrontations between Israeli fans and protesters, and said the decision was made to maintain "public order and safety, not on political considerations."
It referenced a November 2024 match in Amsterdam between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv, after which groups of locals assaulted Israeli fans, leading to dozens of arrests and five hospitalizations. According to the letter, that episode showed that "the combination of football supporters and demonstrators can create a dynamic leading to mutual provocations, resulting in disturbances." It added that while a "large-scale police deployment" could keep groups apart inside the stadium, preventing violence elsewhere is "virtually impossible due to the unpredictability of the encounters."
Israel's Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar raised the issue directly with his Dutch counterpart, Tom Berendsen, and that further discussions were held with the Dutch foreign ministry and the Alkmaar municipality, "demanding that Hapoel Beersheba fans be allowed to attend the match and that their safety be guaranteed inside and around the stadium."
The ministry said it and Israel's embassy in The Hague "will continue working with the Dutch government and the mayor of Alkmaar to ensure that Hapoel Beersheba fans are permitted to attend the match and that their safety is guaranteed."
A Pattern Across Europe
Israeli clubs and the national team have faced similar obstacles elsewhere in Europe. In 2025, Israeli fans were barred from a match hosted by English club Aston Villa, in a decision that also cited the 2024 Amsterdam attacks. Reports later emerged that the Aston Villa ban had been based on inaccurate intelligence and may have reflected bias. West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford resigned following those allegations, and an investigation into possible police misconduct was opened earlier this year.
In recent weeks, Israel's national team played two matches against Ireland, during which Irish players declined to shake hands with their Israeli counterparts and bowed their heads during the playing of Israel's national anthem, Hatikvah. Irish players wore black armbands in the first match, and both teams wore armbands in the second.
Since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza, Palestinian soccer officials and other critics of Israel have repeatedly called on FIFA to ban Israel from international competition, a step FIFA has not taken.
