Due to the tense political situation and ongoing military actions, UEFA does not allow matches to be organized on Israeli territory. Therefore, the national team and clubs must find alternative stadiums to host their matches.

The choice fell on Poland

Among the teams affected is Maccabi Haifa, which finished second in the league standings and earned the right to play in the Europa Conference League qualifiers. On Sunday, an official announcement stated that the team's authorities had reached an agreement with the relevant representatives, and this fall, they will play in Łódź. The stadium where Maccabi Haifa will play their home matches in the qualifiers will be ŁKS Stadium.

The Israeli club will start their campaign from the second round. The matches are scheduled for July 25 and March 1. Maccabi has not yet known its opponent. The draw for the pairs will take place next Wednesday in Nyon. The first-round qualification matches are set for July 11 and 18.

Shortly after this information, a journalist from Sport Interia reported on platform X that another Israeli club would also play its Europa Conference League qualification matches in Łódź, specifically at Widzew Stadium. This team is Hapoel Beer Sheva.

© ŁKS TV 

Fans are displeased

The announcement met with massive criticism from Polish fans, who demand an appropriate response and a change of decision. Fans have even appealed to ŁKS for intervention, as the club plays its matches at the venue on Aleja Unii. The club's position on this matter did not take long to emerge.

We inform that ŁKS Łódź has no connection with the organization of Maccabi Haifa's matches in the European cups at the Władysław Król Municipal Stadium. Questions regarding this matter should be directed to the facility's administrator, Mr. Maciej Łaski, President of the Board of the Municipal Arena of Culture and Sports, read a statement on platform X.

Unofficially, it is also known that Tomasz Salski, one of the club's owners, does not agree with such a solution. It is not excluded that the idea from MAKiS, the owner of Łódź stadiums, was not consulted with the clubs using these stadiums.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

Widzew issued a statement in a similar tone but emphasized that they have no knowledge of such a solution—the information about Hapoel Beer Sheva playing at the stadium on Aleja Piłsudskiego has not yet been officially confirmed. In light of the emerging media reports, Widzew Łódź S.A. informs that it has no knowledge about the possible play of other clubs at the stadium at al. Piłsudskiego 138. The facility's operator is the Municipal Arena of Culture and Sports, and all questions in this regard should be directed to them, read a statement on platform X.

At the time of publishing this article, neither the city of Łódź nor representatives of the Municipal Arena of Culture and Sports have commented on the matter.