Alkmaar Mayor Defends Ban on Hapoel Beer Sheva Fans Over Security Fears
Alkmaar Mayor Anja Schouten defended the ban on Hapoel Beer Sheva fans, citing severe security risks and intelligence warning of threats exceeding those seen during Amsterdam riots.
The climate of hostility and fear in Europe is reaching a new peak following a special session held on Monday by the Alkmaar City Council in the Netherlands. Mayor Anja Schouten made it clear that she stands completely behind the decision to ban Hapoel Beer Sheva fans from attending their upcoming Europa League match.
During her address, the mayor stated that local authorities are unable to guarantee the safety of Israeli fans, classifying the event as high-risk with severe concerns over potential street clashes and violence.
According to Schouten, a primary factor driving this extraordinary decision was intelligence received from police, prosecutors, and municipal authorities in Amsterdam. The information warned that security threats surrounding the Israeli team's arrival are even graver than those recorded prior to the severe riots against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in the city. Additionally, authorities considered the fact that many Israeli fans planned to stay in nearby Amsterdam around the date of the scheduled match.
Concluding her remarks, the mayor emphasized that Dutch authorities are obligated to learn lessons from previous events in Europe where charged fixtures led to provocations and waves of violence from hostile actors and fan groups.
