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🇧🇪 Belgium /Culture & Society

Leuven Rabbi Backs Ridouani Amid Criticism of Ban on Match Against Israeli Club

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani banned the October 22 Union-Hapoel Be’er Sheva match from being played in the city, including behind closed doors, citing public safety.
  • The decision drew criticism from mainly right-wing politicians and accusations of antisemitism, while Rabbi Ilana Sumka and members of Leuven’s Jewish community supported it.
  • Sumka said equating Israel with all Jews ignores the diversity of Jewish people, while Ridouani defended his commitment to inclusion, human rights and attention to everyone.

A rabbi has offered Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani an unexpected defense after his decision to ban a football match involving an Israeli club triggered a political storm. Ilana Sumka, Belgium’s only female rabbi, said the ban on the Union versus Hapoel Be’er Sheva match came from concern about public safety.

I refused in the past to let the Red Flames play against Israel here, and the Red Devils also had to move their match elsewhere.

· Mohamed RidouaniThe Leuven mayor cited earlier decisions involving Belgium’s women’s and men’s national football teams.

Ridouani announced that the October 22 match could not take place on Leuven territory, even behind closed doors. He said people might still travel to the stadium, creating a security risk. He also pointed to earlier decisions to prevent the Belgian women’s national team and the Red Devils from playing Israel in Leuven for the same reason.

For reasons of public safety, I therefore made it known that this match cannot take place in Leuven either. Not even behind closed doors. You risk people still coming to the stadium.

· Mohamed RidouaniHe explained why he banned the Union-Hapoel Be’er Sheva match.

The decision won praise from PVDA council member Anton Nilis and several coalition colleagues, who called it consistent with Ridouani’s earlier support for a motion opposing the war in Gaza. Federal Defence Minister Theo Francken, however, called the ban a bad example that would fuel polarization. Other critics went further, accusing the mayor of antisemitism. Bob Wellens, chairman of the Flemish People’s Movement in Flemish Brabant, wrote on social media that Ridouani hated Jews and Israel, though the post was later removed.

It is a decision that stems from concern about public safety.

· Ilana SumkaThe rabbi defended Ridouani’s decision in an open letter.

Sumka’s open letter said the decision reflected concern for public safety. She called it deeply sad that other Jewish leaders in Flanders had accused Ridouani of hatred toward Jews, and wrote that equating Israel with all Jews does not reflect the diversity of Jewish people. She also credited his leadership with making Leuven a genuinely diverse city. Ridouani did not want to respond at length to the controversy, saying, "Those who know me know what I stand for: inclusion, attention to everyone and human rights."

Those who know me know what I stand for: inclusion, attention to everyone and human rights.

· Mohamed RidouaniRidouani responded briefly to the criticism surrounding the ban.
About this summary

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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