Alkmaar bars Hapoel Beer-Sheva fans from Europa League match against AZ

Security assessment in Alkmaar

Municipal authorities in Alkmaar have barred visiting fans of Israeli club Hapoel Beer-Sheva from attending their Europa League match against AZ on Thursday, 15 October 2026. The decision was reached by the Alkmaar administrative triangle, consisting of Mayor Anja Schouten, the chief public prosecutor, and the regional police chief. The ruling followed consultations with both football clubs, UEFA, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), Dutch national police, and other municipalities where Hapoel has competed. A formal risk analysis concluded that while Hapoel supporters carry an average risk profile, the geopolitical context elevated the fixture to a very high risk classification. Authorities noted that the security plan must address stadium perimeter management at AFAS Stadium, local protest activity, and transit movements across North Holland.

Findings from the Amsterdam disturbances

Alkmaar officials based their evaluation on two independent investigations into the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam on 7 November 2024. In that encounter, street clashes led to 62 arrests and five hospitalisations, even after municipal authorities assigned an extra 800 police officers to matchday duty. Police reports showed that Maccabi fans had vandalised a taxi and burned a Palestinian flag the previous day, followed by coordinated attacks targeting Israeli fans across the city. Municipal leaders in Amsterdam asked Alkmaar to incorporate regional risks, as traveling supporters would likely lodge in the capital and cross paths with demonstrators.

We must unfortunately note that tension in society has not decreased over the past two years. We must therefore take this warning to heart.

Operational measures and club statements

AZ Alkmaar announced that it accepts the ruling and will focus on delivering a secure matchday environment at the AFAS Stadium for the 18:45 kickoff. The club issued a statement recognizing that the fixture elicits differing opinions across society. Security preparations include intensified ticket checks at entrance gates, expanded steward deployment, and specific safety protocols for Hapoel Beer-Sheva players and staff during their travel and hotel stay. On the sporting side, AZ enters the match seeking its first points in the Europa League group stage after a 1-0 defeat away to English club Sunderland in their opening round.

Cross-border impact on Israeli fixtures

The fixture in Alkmaar is the first competitive appearance by an Israeli club in the Netherlands since the Amsterdam clashes in late 2024. Security concerns have created similar logistical hurdles for Hapoel Beer-Sheva across its European campaign. One week after the Alkmaar match, on 22 October 2026, the team travels to play Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. That fixture was originally slated for Leuven, where Union plays its European games, but Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani opposed holding the match in the city. Union subsequently arranged to host the game at the Dusseldorf Arena in Germany behind closed doors, barring fans of both clubs.