Leuven mayor blocks Israeli soccer club from playing in Europa League

In Belgium, the mayor of Leuven, Mohamed Ridouani, has blocked the hosting of Israeli club Hapoel Beer-Sheva for a Europa League match. This decision requires Union Saint-Gilloise to find a new venue for the game scheduled on October 22, as their own stadium does not meet UEFA standards. Ridouani cited public safety concerns as the reason for the refusal, which aligns with a broader policy against allowing matches involving Israel in Leuven.