DEBRECEN, Hungary — The Europa League match on Thursday between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Besiktas unfolded in front of empty stands in Hungary due to security precautions. This decision followed violent incidents affecting Israeli supporters in Amsterdam earlier this month.

Under chilly and rainy conditions, Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a 3-1 victory in Debrecen, the second-largest city in Hungary. While a presence of police was noted outside the stadium, the overall atmosphere did not feel excessively tense in the city of approximately 200,000 inhabitants.

Post-match, Maccabi coach Zarko Lazetic expressed the challenges of competing without an audience, stating, “We play football because of the fans, to give them some pleasure, some excitement, and to be together.” His remarks highlighted the crucial role supporters play in the sport.

Despite the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israeli soccer clubs continue to host domestic games. However, UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, has mandated that due to the hostilities in Gaza, international matches cannot be staged in Israel.

This match marked Maccabi’s return to European play since their fans faced assaults in the Netherlands on November 7, which were widely denounced as antisemitic by officials in Israel and Europe. Prior to the incident in Amsterdam, a significant group of Israeli supporters was seen chanting anti-Arab slogans. Subsequently, local youths sought out Israeli fans, leading to physical altercations as reported by the city’s mayor. Multiple victims required hospital treatment, and police apprehended numerous suspects.

Before the attacks took place, UEFA had already decided to relocate the Europa League game from its original venue in Istanbul to a neutral location, following directives from Turkish authorities. Hungary agreed to accommodate the match, having previously hosted several home games for Israel’s national team since the escalation of conflict in Gaza.