Club Brugge to play Napoli behind closed doors due to security concerns

Club Brugge will host Napoli behind closed doors on Thursday after the mayor of the Belgian city determined that the safety of supporters could not be guaranteed.

Mayor Renaat Landuyt first decided to prohibit Napoli fans from travelling to Jan Breydel Stadion for the Group D Europa League match. But now that ban extends to all ticket holders.

Belgium remains on its highest terror alert level following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris. Police have conducted more than a dozen raids and made several arrests in recent days in Brussels. Bruges is just over an hour away, leading Landuyt to impose pre-emptive security measures.

Napoli, which is leaving behind the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, has already qualified for the next phase of the competition. Brugge needs a win to stay in contention for a berth in the round of 32.