Tel Aviv Derby Postponed Following Violent Riots
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was engulfed by haze ahead of the planned beginning
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Issued
The Israeli Premier League rivalry match involving one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off ahead of the start on Sunday, following what police labeled as "civil unrest and violent riots".
"Many of smoke grenades and flares were thrown," law enforcement announced on online platforms, adding "this isn't a sporting event, it represents disorder and significant aggression".
Twelve individuals and multiple police personnel were injured, officials confirmed, while nine people were arrested and numerous others questioned by police.
The disturbances happen just a short time after representatives in the Britain stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans cannot be permitted to go to the European competition game at Aston Villa in Britain in November because of security issues.
The local club censured the derby cancellation, claiming law enforcement of "getting ready for a conflict, not a sporting event", including during discussions in the preparation to the much-expected match.
"The alarming incidents around the stadium and after the reckless and scandalous judgment to cancel the game only show that the Israel Police has assumed command over the sport," Hapoel Tel Aviv said in a statement.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has declined to speak, only acknowledging the match was cancelled.
The judgment by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban the team's supporters from the Aston Villa match on November 6 has sparked widespread criticism.
The UK government has since said it is attempting to reverse the prohibition and considering what extra measures might be required to make certain the fixture can be hosted safely.
The English club notified their stadium staff that they were not required to attend at the fixture, saying they understood that some "may have concerns".
On earlier in the week, West Midlands Police confirmed it endorsed the ban and designated the game as "concerning" based on reports and earlier occurrences.
That included "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" between the Dutch team and followers prior to a match in the Netherlands in November 2024, when more than 60 people were detained.
There have been protests at multiple sporting events concerning the war in Gaza, including when Israel competed against Norway and Italy in current football World Cup qualifiers.
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Additional reports
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Released48 hours prior
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IssuedAugust 16
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