Tel Aviv Derby Called Off Due to Violent Riots
The sports venue in the city was filled with haze before the planned beginning
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Published
The Israeli Premier League rivalry match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was abandoned ahead of kick-off on Sunday, due to what authorities labeled as "civil unrest and violent riots".
"Many of smoke devices and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," law enforcement announced on social media, emphasizing "this isn't a sporting event, it constitutes disorder and major hostilities".
Twelve people and multiple law enforcement members were harmed, police said, while nine people were taken into custody and sixteen detained for questioning.
The unrest occur just days after representatives in the Britain said that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ought to be banned to be present at the international tournament game at Aston Villa in the UK next month because of safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the match postponement, alleging Israeli police of "preparing for a conflict, instead of a football match", including during talks in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited encounter.
"The alarming incidents outside the arena and after the irresponsible and unacceptable ruling not to hold the game only demonstrate that the Israel Police has seized authority in the game," the team announced publicly.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, only acknowledging the game was called off.
The decision by the local safety committee to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Birmingham game on November 6 has triggered extensive disapproval.
The UK government has subsequently stated it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and considering what extra measures might be required to ensure the match can be conducted securely.
Villa told their stadium staff that they were not required to attend at the game, saying they understood that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, law enforcement stated it endorsed the prohibition and classified the fixture as "concerning" according to intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That encompassed "serious fights and bigotry-related acts" involving the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a fixture in the Dutch capital in late 2024, when over sixty individuals were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at multiple games concerning the conflict in Gaza, such as when the national team played the Scandinavian team and the European team in recent football World Cup qualifiers.
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Posted48 hours prior
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ReleasedAugust 16
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