Israeli champions Hapoel Beer-Sheva will compete in two crucial Europa League fixtures without their traveling supporters due to heightened security concerns.

On 15 October, Dutch side AZ Alkmaar announced that municipal officials recommended excluding visiting fans from the stadium for their upcoming match. A week later, on 22 October, Hapoel's away fixture against Union Saint-Gilloise has been relocated to Germany. The mayor of Leuven, Belgium, refused to host the match, leading to a decision for it to be played behind closed doors at Fortuna Düsseldorf’s ground.

Since October 2023, Israeli domestic teams and the national squad have been required to stage home European matches in neutral venues due to security issues, although matches abroad have generally continued as planned.

AZ Alkmaar stated, "AZ respects this decision and follows the instructions of the relevant authorities," emphasizing that "the safety of supporters, employees, players, and other stakeholders is paramount."

This decision follows violent clashes in Amsterdam when Ajax faced Maccabi Tel-Aviv in a Europa League match in November 2024. Additionally, Maccabi Tel-Aviv fans were banned from attending their match against Aston Villa last season after it was deemed high risk.

Union Saint-Gilloise noted they sought a venue closer to Brussels to ease travel for their supporters but were unable to do so for security reasons, confirming that the match will be held without any fans present.

Hapoel Beer-Sheva entered the Europa League after narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot in August, following a stoppage-time goal against Sabah. The club started their Europa League campaign with a 0-0 draw against Dinamo Zagreb on 16 September, and their upcoming away fixtures include a match against Besiktas in Istanbul on 26 November and a trip to face Bournemouth on 28 January.