Maccabi Tel Aviv Triumphs in Empty Stadium Amid Security Concerns Following Amsterdam Attacks
Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a 3-1 victory over Besiktas in the Europa League on Thursday, with the match taking place in an empty stadium in Debrecen, Hungary, due to heightened security concerns. The stadium was closed to fans following attacks on Israeli supporters in Amsterdam earlier this month.
The game, played on a cold and rainy evening, went ahead without any incidents, although groups of police patrolled the area surrounding the stadium. The city, with a population of approximately 200,000, showed heightened security, but the atmosphere inside the stadium was notably subdued, with no fans present.
After the match, Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Zarko Lazetic expressed the challenges of playing in front of an empty stand. “We play football because of the fans, to give them some pleasure and excitement,” Lazetic said, emphasizing the importance of fan support in the sport.
The match marked Maccabi’s first European outing since its supporters were attacked in Amsterdam on November 7, in what was widely condemned as an antisemitic assault. The incident occurred after a large group of Israeli fans were reportedly targeted by youths on scooters who chased them around the city, leading to several injuries and hospital treatments.
In response to the Amsterdam attacks, UEFA had already decided to relocate the match, originally set to be played in Istanbul, to a neutral venue, in line with a decision by Turkish authorities. Hungary, which has hosted several games for Israel’s national teams since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict, agreed to host the fixture.
UEFA has also ruled that Israel cannot host international games due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with all of Israel’s domestic games continuing to take place within the country.
