Belgium refuses to host Israel soccer match, citing security fears

Illustrative photo of Belgian Police patrolling the Grand Place in central Brussels on October 17, 2023, following the shooting of two Swedish soccer fans by a suspected Tunisian extremist. (AP/Martin Meissner)
Illustrative photo of Belgian Police patrolling the Grand Place in central Brussels on October 17, 2023, following the shooting of two Swedish soccer fans by a suspected Tunisian extremist. (AP/Martin Meissner)

Belgium will not host the Nations League match against Israel on September 6 over security fears, the Belgian Football Federation (RBFA) announces.

The city of Brussels said last month that the match would not be played at the King Baudouin stadium because it could spark demonstrations.

Authorities had deemed it “impossible to organize this very high-risk match” in the city due to tensions linked to the Israeli-Hamas war.

Other Belgian cities also refused to host the match.

The host city has not yet been designated, with Budapest being cited as an option.

Concerns were likely raised by the attack in Brussels in October in which an Islamist gunman killed two Swedish football fans before a Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden.

France and Italy are in the same Nations League Group A2 as Belgium and Israel.

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