Alkmaar bans Israeli fans from Europa League match, Israel demands reversal

Alkmaar authorities have banned Hapoel Beersheba fans from attending the Europa League match against AZ, citing a 'very high risk', a decision Israel's Foreign Ministry is demanding be reversed.

The municipality of Alkmaar has decided that Israeli fans will not be allowed to attend the Europa League match between AZ and Hapoel Beersheba this Thursday. Israel's Foreign Ministry is demanding a reversal of this decision, which local authorities say is necessary for public order.

In a letter, the city council states the match carries a 'very high risk due to the geopolitical context'. The letter emphasises the decision was taken solely for 'public order and safety, not on political considerations'. It references incidents following a 2024 match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam, which led to dozens of arrests and five hospitalisations. Authorities fear the combination of football supporters and demonstrants could lead to mutual provocations and disturbances. 'Despite large-scale police deployment, preventing violence elsewhere is virtually impossible,' the letter said.

Diplomatic pressure

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has raised the issue with his Dutch counterpart Tom Berendsen. The ministry and the Israeli embassy in The Hague continue to work with the Dutch government and the mayor of Alkmaar to ensure fan safety and attendance. This is not the first time Israeli fans have been barred. In 2025, Aston Villa also banned them, similarly citing the Amsterdam incidents. It later emerged that ban may have been based on inaccurate intelligence and bias, leading to the police chief's resignation and a misconduct investigation.

This controversy unfolds as the Netherlands national team is on a strong run. In its last four matches, Oranje remained unbeaten with two wins and two draws. The latest victory was a 2-1 home win against Serbia on October 4, with goals from Teun Koopmeiners and Joshua Zirkzee. The next fixture is a home match against Greece on November 13. The last meeting with that nation, on October 1, ended in a 2-2 draw.

Calls for Israel to be banned from international competition, including from Palestinian football officials since the war in Gaza, have not led to a suspension by FIFA. The immediate focus is now on ensuring the safety of the club match in Alkmaar. The municipality is maintaining the ban on Beersheba supporters for now.