UEFA relocates Beşiktaş vs. Maccabi match to Hungary after Amsterdam clashes

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) moved the upcoming match between Turkey's Beşiktaş JK and "Israel's" Maccabi Tel Aviv to Debrecen, Hungary, following the recent altercations between "Israeli" and pro-Palestinian football fans in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

in a published statement, UEFA notified, "The UEFA Europa League match between Beşiktaş and Maccabi Tel-Aviv on 28 November 2024 will take place at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, following a decision by the Turkish authorities not to stage it in Türkiye."

"The match will be played behind closed doors following a decision of the local Hungarian authorities," the statement continued.

The relocation follows a violent incident last Friday after a game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax Amsterdam. Clashes broke out as pro-Palestinian supporters retaliated against Maccabi fans after being provoked, leading to injuries for at least five people.

Dutch authorities confirmed on Monday the arrest of five more suspects, aged between 18 and 37, linked to the attack. This brings the total number of detentions to 68, as police previously apprehended 63 people shortly after the incident.

Four days before the Amsterdam clashes, Beşiktaş JK announced that its game against Maccabi would be held in a neutral country, citing security concerns. This precautionary decision aligned with UEFA's subsequent actions, ensuring both teams could proceed with the match under controlled, secure conditions.