Tel-Aviv Derby Cancelled Following Major Disturbances
The sports venue in the city was filled with smoke prior to the anticipated start
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Published
The Israeli Premier League rivalry match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled before the start on Sunday, due to what police described as "crowd trouble and violent riots".
"Dozens of smoke bombs and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," Israeli police announced on online platforms, noting "this cannot be considered a sporting event, it represents chaos and significant aggression".
A dozen individuals and three police personnel were harmed, authorities reported, while multiple persons were arrested and sixteen held for interrogation.
The clashes occur just days after authorities in the United Kingdom said that followers of the club cannot be permitted to go to the European competition game at the English club in Britain in November because of security issues.
One team condemned the match postponement, alleging authorities of "gearing up for a conflict, instead of a football match", even during talks in the lead-up to the highly-anticipated match.
"The disturbing situations near the stadium and due to the reckless and outrageous decision not to hold the match only prove that the authorities has assumed command over the sport," Hapoel Tel Aviv stated officially.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has declined to speak, except to confirm the game was called off.
The decision by the local safety committee to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Birmingham game on November 6 has sparked broad condemnation.
The UK government has since said it is working to overturn the ban and investigating what further support might be necessary to make certain the fixture can be held without incident.
Aston Villa told their matchday stewards that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, explaining they understood that some "could be worried".
On Thursday, law enforcement said it supported the ban and classified the fixture as "concerning" due to intelligence and past events.
That involved "serious fights and discrimination incidents" involving the Dutch team and followers ahead of a match in Amsterdam in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were detained.
There have been rallies at multiple athletic competitions concerning the war in Gaza, including when the national team competed against Norway and Italy in current football World Cup qualifiers.
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