BRUSSELS: Brussels has refused to host a Nations League match between Israel and Belgium on Sept 6 because it could spark demonstrations, city authorities said on Wednesday.

They said in a statement that holding such a match while the war in Gaza was continuing “will undoubtedly provoke large demonstrations and counter-demonstrations, compromising the safety of spectators, players, Brussels residents and also the police”.

The Belgian Football Federation said it would have accepted that the match take place behind closed doors but said it deeply regretted that the Belgian capital had refused to host the game at all.

“We deplore the decision taken by the City of Brussels — which has a lot of experience of organising big events — to not organise the match in our stronghold,” the federation said.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2024