Belgium to Play Israel Nations League Match Behind Closed Doors in Hungary

Belgium’s upcoming Nations League match against Israel will be held without spectators in Debrecen, Hungary, on 6 September. The Belgian Football Federation (RBFA) sought a new venue after Brussels and other Belgian cities deemed it “impossible” to host the fixture due to security concerns.

The decision follows the recent Israel-Gaza conflict, which has sparked global demonstrations, including in Belgium. “Given that in Belgium, no local authority considered it possible to organise the home match of the Red Devils against Israel, the RBFA had to look for a solution abroad,” the federation stated.

Belgium’s home fixtures are typically held at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. In October, a gunman killed two Swedish nationals before a Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden at the same stadium, leading to the match’s abandonment at half-time for security reasons. Initially, Belgian prosecutors found no direct link between the attack and the Israel-Gaza conflict but later admitted they could not exclude the possibility.

Belgium and Israel are part of Nations League Group A2, which also includes France and Italy.

In related news, FIFA is reviewing a proposal from the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) to suspend Israel from international competition. The PFA’s case, submitted in May, will be addressed by FIFA’s council on 31 August, with a final decision expected post-Paris Olympics, scheduled between 26 July and 11 August. FIFA cited the need for more time to ensure due diligence in the legal process.

Israel will compete against Mali, Paraguay, and Japan in the group phase of the 2024 Olympics.