Hapoel Be'er Sheva Objects to UEFA Over Besiktas Match Venue in Georgia
Hapoel Be'er Sheva has appealed to UEFA against playing their away match against Besiktas in Batumi, Georgia, citing security proximity to the Turkish border.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva has reportedly appealed to UEFA, expressing strong opposition to playing their upcoming away match against Besiktas in Batumi, Georgia, due to security concerns.
The match, scheduled for November 26, was originally set to take place in Turkey before being relocated due to security reasons. Besiktas president Serdal Adali subsequently announced that the fixture would be hosted in Batumi with spectators allowed.
However, according to reports in Turkey, Hapoel Be'er Sheva pointed out that Batumi is located very close to the Turkish border—just 20 kilometers from the Sarp border crossing. The Israeli club emphasized that Turkish fans can enter Georgia simply using their identity cards, meaning that holding the match in Batumi does not effectively neutralize security risks.
Consequently, Be'er Sheva has requested that the game be moved to another country or played behind closed doors. The final decision now rests with UEFA, which may reevaluate both the venue and the attendance policy.
