Israel criticizes Netherlands as Dutch city upholds ban on Israeli football fans

Israel's Foreign Ministry sharply criticized the Netherlands after a Dutch city upheld a ban on fans of Israeli football club Hapoel Be'er Sheva attending a Europa League match, citing security concerns.

The ministry described the Netherlands as an "antisemitism hotspot" in response to the decision, according to reporting on the dispute. The ban prevents traveling supporters of the Israeli club from attending the match in person.

Security cited as the reason for the ban

Dutch authorities have pointed to security concerns as the basis for upholding the restriction on away fans. Bans on visiting supporters at European matches are not unprecedented and are sometimes imposed by local authorities or police over concerns about crowd safety or the risk of disorder.

The episode adds to a series of tensions between Israel and some European governments and cities over security and political disputes tied to football fixtures involving Israeli clubs. It was not immediately reported whether Dutch officials had responded directly to the Israeli ministry's characterization.