Authorities ban Union fans from travelling to game at Saint-Gilloise

Authorities in Leuven have banned Union Berlin fans from entering the Belgian city and its surrounding areas as the German club visit Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League on Thursday, reported dpa.

With the measure, the city of Leuven aims to prevent Union supporters from travelling to the stadium without a ticket.

European ruling body UEFA has not allowed Union to sell tickets to their fans due to misconducts in the away block during the game at Malmö on October 6.

The local police authority has also pointed out that an ID check will be carried out at the stadium and entry will not be allowed to people with German ID documents, the Bundesliga leaders said in a statement.

According to Union, the justification for the measure states, among other things, "that the presence of ticketless German fans on the streets, in the vicinity of the stadium or in the city centre could disturb public order."

Union president Dirk Zingler said he considers the decision to be "disproportionate and wrong."

"Once again, they are not punishing the perpetrators, but many peaceful football fans. Moreover, the decree is also not in line with the UEFA ruling, which did not impose a travel ban on Union fans, but merely prohibited us as a club from selling tickets for the guest block in Leuven," he said.

Due to UEFA regulations, Saint-Gilloise host their Europa League games at the Den Dreef stadium in Leuven, and not in their Joseph Marien Stadium in Brussels.