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Istanbul club Besiktas is drawn against Israel's Hapoel Beer-Sheva as one of the eight opponents in the league phase of the Europa League 2026-2027 season, setting up another controversial fixture after its 2024 match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The draw comes amid strained ties between Türkiye and Israel, with Besiktas' previous European meeting against an Israeli club moved out of Istanbul during the 2024-2025 Europa League league phase.
Turkish authorities declined to host the Maccabi Tel Aviv match at that time, prompting UEFA to relocate it to Debrecen, Hungary, where it was played behind closed doors.
The upcoming game against Hapoel Beer-Sheva is scheduled to take place in Istanbul unless UEFA makes a similar decision, with the fixture date and kickoff time expected to be announced by Sunday.
The league phase draw took place on Friday at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, with Besiktas placed in Pot 4 alongside German club Hoffenheim, Portuguese club Torreense, Israeli club Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Dutch club N.E.C., Greek club OFI Crete, Norwegian club Lillestrom, Bulgarian club Levski Sofia and Armenian club Ararat-Armenia.
Besiktas, the only club from Türkiye in the competition, is paired with German club Bayer Leverkusen, French club Olympique Marseille, Belgian club Union SG, Scottish club Celtic, English club Crystal Palace, Greek Cypriot club Omonia, Israeli club Hapoel Beer-Sheva and German club Hoffenheim.
The Istanbul side will host Marseille, Union SG, Crystal Palace and Hapoel Beer-Sheva, while it will travel to Leverkusen, Celtic, Omonia and Hoffenheim.
Besiktas lost 3-1 to Maccabi Tel Aviv in that controversial match on Nov. 28, 2024, at Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen. The venue change came after clashes involving Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters during the club's previous Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam, with at least five people injured.
Besiktas also said at the time that Hungary was the only country willing to host the rearranged fixture.
Against Hapoel Beer-Sheva, however, Besiktas has won both previous meetings. The clubs first met in the 2016-2017 Europa League round of 32, when Besiktas won 3-1 away at Turner Stadium in Beersheba on Feb. 16, 2017. Atiba Hutchinson sealed the first-leg victory with a 93rd-minute goal.
Besiktas then won the return leg 2-1 in Istanbul on Feb. 23, 2017, completing a 5-2 aggregate victory and advancing to the round of 16. UEFA records Besiktas with two wins and no defeats or draws against Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
Under UEFA's 2026-2027 Europa League regulations, UEFA can change a match venue if it determines that the scheduled stadium is not suitable for the fixture, including because of safety and security concerns.
UEFA can first consult the club and its national association and ask them to propose an alternative stadium that meets UEFA requirements. If they cannot provide an acceptable venue by UEFA's deadline, UEFA can select a neutral stadium, including one in another UEFA member association.
In exceptional and urgent circumstances, the home club must also have access to an approved backup stadium so the match can go ahead, including, if necessary, without spectators.
This mechanism can become particularly relevant when clubs from countries with hostile or severely strained relations are drawn against each other, as security concerns can affect where and how a match is staged.
UEFA's regulations do not, however, state that a fixture must automatically be moved simply because the two countries have hostile relations; any change depends on the circumstances and UEFA's assessment of the match venue and security situation.
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