Mon Oct 14 20:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Security Tightened in Udine as Italy Hosts Israel Amidst Ongoing Conflict
**Udine, Italy** – The city of Udine is on high alert as Italy prepares to host Israel for their UEFA Nations League match on Monday, amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This will be Israel’s first game outside of neutral Hungary this year.
Security measures are stringent, with areas around the Stadio Friuli declared a “Red Zone” and fans required to undergo rigorous checks. Only those with tickets are allowed to pass through the metal barriers, and supporters are advised to arrive early. Hundreds of additional police officers have been deployed to the area.
This game comes after Israel’s national soccer team played its last few matches in Hungary due to security concerns. The Belgian soccer federation refused to host Israel in the Nations League last month, prompting the team to play their game against Belgium in Hungary.
The upcoming match has also sparked controversy. A pro-Palestine demonstration is planned for 5 p.m. local time in the city center, just hours before the game, with organizers expecting a turnout of 4,000 people.
Despite the security measures, Italy coach Luciano Spalletti expressed hope that the game would send a message against war: “We are going to play this match with the hope of convincing ever more people of the wrongness of war,” he stated. “There are many Israelis who don’t want it and we must convince ever more people that this is something that has to stop.”
Ticket sales for the match have been slow, with fewer than 12,000 tickets sold – less than half the stadium’s capacity.
First Piper 