Fireworks target Israeli soccer team in Norway

Protests and fireworks disrupted Maccabi Tel Aviv's preparations in Norway ahead of their Europa League showdown against Bodø/Glimt on Thursday night.

Demonstrators gathered outside the airport, holding signs with slogans like “Stop Killing Children” and “Free Palestine,” signaling the political tensions surrounding the match. Early Thursday morning, fireworks were reportedly set off near the team’s hotel, the Scandic Havet, in what local media described as an act linked to the “controversial match.”

The clash at Aspmyra Stadion carries high stakes, with Bodø/Glimt looking to secure a top-eight spot in the 36-team Europa League phase. The Norwegian champions, who have dominated domestic football in recent years with four titles in the past five seasons, aim to extend their success to the European stage. Despite mixed results in domestic and friendly matches this year, Bodø/Glimt have been formidable at home, losing just one of their 15 Eliteserien matches at Aspmyra in 2024.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, a storied Israeli club, face a challenging task against the resilient Bodø/Glimt, who narrowly edged past Brann to clinch another league title.

Ynet contributed to this article.