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Surprising news.
The upcoming UEFA Nations League Belgium vs Israel match will be hold... not in Brussels but on the Hungary.
Why?
Because of
> hightened risks and serious security concerns
They can't guarantee the safety of the Israeli team and fans.
> The city officials said they did not want to take risks, amid the ongoing Gaza conflict and strong pro-Palestinian sentiment within the Brussels’ migrant population.
> Some observers argued Hungary’s choice was ironic, after the country received criticism for not opening its borders to migrants from majority-Muslim countries. Now, they say, Hungary appeared to offer Europe’s only safe location to organise a football game against Israel, without threat of terror or attacks.
> “Outside of a war situation, this is the first time, to my knowledge, that a European country has officially recognised that it is no longer master of its territory, due to an overly pressing Arab-Muslim presence,” said French political activist Damien Rieu.
Hilarious.
https://brusselssignal.eu/2024/07/belgium-israel-football-match-to-be-played-in-hungary-for-security-reasons/
This article also mentions other matches, specifically in Poland, that cannot be held.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/brussels-declines-to-host-upcoming-belgium-israel-soccer-match-citing-security-risk/
I know that sometimes they organize matches for Israeli teams on the Hungary, but they aren't too publicized.
Interesting tidbit, from BBC:
> In October, a gunman killed two Swedish people before a Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden in Brussels.
They link another article which says the shooter was an Arabic speaking man.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cl5y2xzpx2xo
I might have my own commentary, but perhaps it's too political for this thread.