Europe amazed by Hapoel Tel Aviv fans, but Miskolc left with the mess
A Swiss newspaper dedicated a special report to the journey of about 5,000 Hapoel Tel Aviv fans to Hungary, impressed by the "South American atmosphere" they created against Ludogorets. However, after the smoke cleared, a different picture emerged: the mayor reported nearly 9 cubic meters of trash, while residents criticized the pyrotechnics and damage to the lawns.
The journey of Hapoel Tel Aviv fans to the "home" match against Ludogorets in the Conference League qualifiers has received two completely different types of reactions. While the prestigious Swiss newspaper NZZ dedicated a field report to the fans and complimented the atmosphere they created, sharp criticism was heard in the host city of Miskolc following the events that took place outside the stadium.
Hapoel Tel Aviv held the match in Miskolc, more than 2,000 kilometers from Israel. For the fans, who had waited 12 years for the team's return to European competitions, it was much more than just another game. About 5,000 of them arrived in Hungary, with some making their way to the stadium in a convoy of 20 buses accompanied by police.
NZZ described how the fans took over the area around the stadium hours before kickoff, held a spontaneous march, and filled the streets with songs and red smoke. In the stands, alongside trumpets and pyrotechnics, they created a "South American atmosphere" in front of a few dozen Ludogorets fans and a stadium that remained almost empty in its other parts.
However, not everyone in Miskolc was impressed by the red celebration. The mayor, József Tóth-Szántai, wrote that what happened after the match is "unacceptable." According to his announcement, the stadium area and the South Kilián neighborhood were left in a state that required extraordinary cleaning, and municipal workers worked throughout the night to clear almost 9 cubic meters of trash.
"One thing is certain: the residents of Miskolc will not pay the price for the extraordinary cleaning," the mayor wrote, adding that the municipality will act to collect the costs from those responsible.
He also requested that in future international matches, the local police be given a more significant role in security, after the responsibility this time was placed on the national police unit from Budapest.
Criticism from residents was also heard in the comments to his post. One neighborhood resident claimed that no prior notice was given about the arrival of thousands of fans and asked why the march passed through parks and residential areas. According to her, the pyrotechnics left scorched areas on the lawns and scared animals away from the park.
Other residents complained about firecrackers, traffic jams, and dirt, and some called on the municipality not to host such matches again. It is important to emphasize that these are user comments, which do not necessarily reflect the position of all Miskolc residents.
Thus, the evening ended with two completely different images: foreign media praised the crowd that turned a remote stadium into a home and helped Hapoel Tel Aviv achieve an impressive 0:2 victory over the Bulgarian Ludogorets, while the host city was left with anger, dirt, and a debate over the price Miskolc paid for the red celebration.
