Stockholm  - The upcoming Davis Cup tie between Sweden and Israel will be played behind closed doors over security concerns, politicians in Swedish host city Malmo said Wednesday.

The city council's board for leisure, recreation and sport activities voted Wednesday that the March 6-8 tie would be played without any paying spectators.

Politicians from the Social Democrats and Left Party won the vote by 5-4, supporting a proposal from board chairman Bengt Forsberg of the Social Democrats.

The Davis Cup match has been classified as a high-risk event over potential protests by groups wanting to protest against the recent Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

The Swedish security police have assessed threats and ticket sales have been postponed several times.

The Baltic Hall venue has a capacity to seat some 4,000 people. A proposal to cordon off part of the arena was voted down. The cancelled ticket sales mean that Malmo city will have to face extra costs of some 3 million kronor (365,000 dollars).

Deputy board chairman Carlos Gonzalez Ramos of the Left Party earlier called for the tie to be cancelled, citing the situation in Gaza.

Malmo, Sweden's third largest city, has a sizeable immigrant population with many from the Middle East. dpa