World · Europe · 6 hrs ago
AZ Alkmaar beats Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2-1 in Europa League
AZ Alkmaar beat Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2-1 in a Europa League match in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
Peer Koopmeiners scored for AZ in the 48th minute, Hapoel’s Forson Amankwah equalised six minutes later, and Mexx Meerdink scored the winner in the 76th.
Mexico defender Mateo Chávez came on in the 75th minute for AZ, after losing his place in the starting lineup.
Hapoel’s Israeli supporters were barred from attending because the city said it could not ensure public safety around the match.
Mayor Anja Schouten also moved two planned protests away from the stadium, citing concerns about possible confrontations.
Israeli officials condemned the ban, while the mayor said it was based on public order concerns; the match went ahead without away fans.
AZ Alkmaar beat Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2-1 in the Europa League on October 15.
The match was level at 1-1 before Mexx Meerdink scored the winner in the 76th minute.
Peer Koopmeiners opened the scoring for AZ in the 48th minute, and Forson Amankwah equalised for Hapoel six minutes later.
Mateo Chávez came on for AZ in the 75th minute.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans were barred from attending the match over security concerns, a decision criticised by Israeli officials.
- Who
- AZ Alkmaar and Hapoel Be'er Sheva.
- What
- AZ Alkmaar won 2-1 in a Europa League match.
- When
- October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Alkmaar, Netherlands.
- Why
- The teams played in the second matchday of the Europa League; AZ secured its first points in the competition.
Israeli officials
Alkmaar Mayor Anja Schouten
Reason for the away-fan ban
Israeli officials
Israeli officials condemned the exclusion and said it rewarded threats and incitement.
Alkmaar Mayor Anja Schouten
Schouten said the decision was based on public-order and safety concerns.
Allowing supporters to attend
Israeli officials
Ambassador Zvi Aviner Vapni urged that Israeli supporters be allowed to attend safely, if necessary in limited numbers.
Alkmaar Mayor Anja Schouten
Schouten said the ban was fixed and the match would take place without an away crowd.
Alkmaar initially said Israeli supporters were welcome, but the mayor later banned away fans over security concerns.
Mayor Anja Schouten ordered two demonstrations against the match to be moved away from the stadium.
AZ Alkmaar beat Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2-1 in Alkmaar, with Mexx Meerdink scoring the winning goal in the 76th minute.
- Final score
- AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
- Opening goal
- Peer Koopmeiners, 48th minute
- Equaliser
- Forson Amankwah, 54th minute
- Winning goal
- Mexx Meerdink, 76th minute
- AZ substitute
- Mateo Chávez entered in the 75th minute
- Venue
- Alkmaar, Netherlands
6 sources
Gana el AZ Alkmaar en la Europa League
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Licensable picture: Pro-Palestinian demonstration ahead of UEFA Europa League match between AZ Alkmaar v Hapoel Be'er Sheva in Netherlands
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Alkmaar moves protest against Israeli fans amid safety concerns
What people are saying
It is not possible to take adequate management measures to prevent disorder and separate fans going to the stadium from demonstrators.
Two years after Israelis were hunted through the streets of Amsterdam, the Dutch answer is to ban the victims, not the attackers.
Instead of stopping the extremists, they banned the fans. Stand against hate, not against football fans.