The Belgian capital refused to host a match between Belgium and Israel in September attributable to issues that it may result in protests as Israel continues to obtain worldwide criticism about its massacres within the Gaza Strip.
City authorities mentioned in a press release that holding such a match whereas the conflict in Gaza was persevering with “will undoubtedly provoke large demonstrations and counter-demonstrations, compromising the safety of spectators, players, Brussels residents and also the police.”
The Belgian Football Federation (URBSFA) mentioned it could have accepted that the match happen behind closed doorways however it deeply regretted that the Belgian capital had refused to host the sport in any respect.
“We deplore the decision taken by the City of Brussels – which has a lot of experience of organizing big events – to not organize the match in our stronghold,” the federation mentioned.
The federation mentioned it was in touch with a number of cities and the safety providers about discovering another venue.
The metropolis of Louvain has already mentioned it could not host the match both.
Concerns have been probably raised by the assault in Brussels in October by which a gunman killed two Swedish soccer followers, though the motive of the assault was not anti-Semitic.
France and Italy are in the identical Nations League Group A2 as Belgium and Israel.
Source: www.dailysabah.com