Union Saint-Gilloise will play their Europa League match against Hapoel Beer-Sheva behind closed doors at Dusseldorf Arena on Thursday, a stadium with a capacity of almost 55,000. The fixture was relocated from Belgium due to security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Relocation from Leuven
Union SG usually play their domestic games at Joseph Marien Stadium in Brussels, but that venue does not meet UEFA regulations. In August, the club announced they would hold their European ties at Den Dreef in nearby Leuven. However, the draw against Hapoel Beer-Sheva complicated those plans.
The city of Leuven banned the match from being hosted at Den Dreef due to fears of unrest. Leuven mayor Mohamed Ridouani previously prevented the men's and women's national teams from playing Israel at the stadium. He told Belgian broadcaster VRT: "I consistently draw the line there. We cannot guarantee safety."
Search for an Alternative Venue
Union SG were forced to find another stadium. The Brussels Times reports that the club preferred a venue that would allow supporters to attend, but no such option was found. Dusseldorf Arena, usually home to Fortuna Dusseldorf, was selected because it would cause minimal disruption to the team's preparation, even though fans would not be admitted.
Union SG manager David Hubert, who briefly played for Hapoel Beer-Sheva, expressed disappointment. "We worked very hard to have four European matches to play at home in front of our fans," he said. "It's a situation that saddens me and is very unfortunate, but it's beyond my control. The only thing we have in our hands is the personality and character we show on the pitch. I see this as a challenge to overcome, one that will require each of us to give even more."
Team Form and Reactions
Union SG began their league phase campaign with an away victory over Viktoria Plzen before drawing with Real Sociedad in Leuven. Their upcoming opponents recently lost to AZ Alkmaar and were previously forced to play their draw with Dinamo Zagreb in Bucharest due to the conflict.
Hapoel Beer-Sheva manager Ran Kozuch said: "It's very frustrating. Football is made for the fans and by the fans. It's sad, and it's something we'll miss. I would have preferred to play this match in a noisy atmosphere, but we have to deal with the situation." Union SG midfielder Besfort Zeneli added: "My first impression of the stadium? It's really nice, but nothing compares to Duden Park (Joseph Marien Stadium). It's still a big match. It's a European fixture and I don't think you need any extra motivation for this kind of occasion."
