Israel ramps up diplomatic push as Alkmaar sticks to fan ban
With only three days left before AZ face Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel is intensifying diplomatic pressure, while the municipality of Alkmaar remains unmoved, insisting the Europa League tie will go ahead on 15 October without Israeli supporters, despite calls for safe attendance.
Diplomatic pressure and official responses
In a telephone conversation with Alkmaar mayor Anja Schouten, Israeli ambassador Zvi Aviner Vapni said the decision to bar Israeli fans raises ‘big question marks’ over its justification, the Israeli embassy confirmed to Nieuwsuur. He argued that every effort should be made to allow supporters to attend safely, even if only in limited numbers. If safe entry cannot be guaranteed, Israel has asked that the match be relocated, potentially abroad.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar raised the issue with Dutch foreign minister Tom Berendsen,
Correspondent Lennard Swolfs noted that the pressure fits a broader Israeli policy of foregrounding the protection of its citizens overseas. He recalled that last year Sa’ar condemned the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at an Aston Villa match in Birmingham as ‘shameful’ and demanded the decision be reversed.
Local decisions and match logistics
Alkmaar’s mayor’s office confirmed to Nieuwsuur that the ban on Israeli supporters is final and the Europa League match on Thursday will proceed without an away crowd. The municipality labelled the fixture ‘very high risk’ because of the geopolitical context, despite UEFA assigning Hapoel Be’er Sheva a medium‑risk profile.
The city cited the riots that erupted around the 2024 Ajax‑Maccabi Tel Aviv game as a precedent, and mayor Schouten said she had sought advice from Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema.
Earlier, Belgian city Leuven ruled that the Royale Union Saint‑Gilloise‑versus‑Hapoel Be’er Sheva tie could not be staged locally for public‑safety reasons, moving the 22 October fixture to Düsseldorf. Likewise, the Turkish Beşiktaş‑Hapoel Be’er Sheva match slated for 26 November was shifted to Batumi in Georgia.
Nieuwsuur spoke with several Israeli supporters still intending to travel, while Alkmaar officials said they would monitor the possible presence of an ‘unknown number’ of fans outside the stadium. Two pro‑Palestinian demonstrations have also been announced for the day.
The juxtaposition of Israel’s diplomatic campaign and Alkmaar’s steadfast refusal underscores how security concerns and political calculations are shaping European football fixtures ahead of the AZ encounter.