The security situation continues to make it difficult for the Israeli teams, including national teams, to compete in sports throughout Europe and the world. On Wednesday, the municipality of Brussels, which is expected to host the opening round of the UEFA Nations League biennial international soccer competition between Belgium and Israel on September 6 at King Baudouin Stadium, claimed that hosting the game is "impossible."
The reason for the claim is that city officials are afraid of anti-Israel demonstrations.
"The city of Brussels considers it impossible to organize a Belgium-Israel match in the King Baudouin Stadium," the municipality said in a statement. "After a careful and in-depth analysis, we must conclude today that the announcement of such a match in our capital in these particularly troubled times will undoubtedly lead to large demonstrations and counter-demonstrations, jeopardizing the safety of spectators, players, Brussels residents and our police forces."
A day earlier, the municipality of Lodz, Poland announced that it is withdrawing from the agreement with Maccabi Haifa to host the Israel team's home games in the UEFA Europa Conference League for this season at the LKS stadium, and that no other Israeli teams would play in the city. The cancellation of the agreement comes after outraged Polish fans accused Israel of "committing genocide" in Gaza.
“In response to media reports regarding the football club Maccabi Haifa playing matches at the Municipal Stadium named after Władysław Król in Łódź, the Municipal Arena of Culture and Sports informs that these matches will not take place. There are also no plans for other Israeli teams to play at other venues in Łódź," the statement by the Municipal Arena of Culture and Sports said.
The war in Gaza has provoked, among other things, global pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including in Belgium. At the beginning of the month, the women's national team match between Israel and Scotland, which took place at Hampden Park in Glasgow, was held without fans in the stands at the request of the Scottish Football Association.