Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off Due to Violent Riots
The sports venue in the city was engulfed by smoke prior to the scheduled kick-off
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Published
The Israeli Premier League derby featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off before the start on Sunday, following what law enforcement described as "crowd trouble and violent riots".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and flares were launched," law enforcement stated on online platforms, emphasizing "this isn't a football game, it constitutes disorder and significant aggression".
A dozen people and multiple police personnel were harmed, officials confirmed, while nine people were taken into custody and sixteen detained for questioning.
The clashes happen just days after officials in the United Kingdom stated that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to attend the international tournament game at the Birmingham team in the UK next month because of safety concerns.
One team censured the derby cancellation, accusing Israeli police of "gearing up for a conflict, instead of a sporting event", even during discussions in the lead-up to the much-expected encounter.
"The shocking incidents near the stadium and due to the ill-considered and outrageous judgment to cancel the fixture only prove that the authorities has seized authority in the football," Hapoel Tel Aviv stated officially.
Their rivals has declined to speak, only acknowledging the match was cancelled.
The judgment by the local safety committee to exclude the team's supporters from the English fixture on 6 November has triggered broad condemnation.
The UK government has subsequently stated it is attempting to reverse the prohibition and considering what extra measures might be necessary to ensure the game can be hosted safely.
The English club informed their stadium staff that they did not have to work at the match, explaining they understood that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, local authorities confirmed it backed the ban and classified the fixture as "high risk" due to information and past events.
That involved "violent clashes and hate-crime offences" between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a match in the Dutch capital in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at multiple games regarding the conflict in Gaza, for instance when Israel faced the Scandinavian team and Italy in current qualification games.
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- Football
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Released16 August
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