Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off After Major Disturbances
Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv was filled with haze before the scheduled start
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The domestic football league derby featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled prior to commencement on the weekend, after what law enforcement labeled as "civil unrest and major clashes".
"Dozens of smoke devices and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," law enforcement stated on online platforms, noting "this isn't a match, it represents chaos and significant aggression".
A dozen people and three officers were injured, authorities reported, while nine people were arrested and 16 detained for questioning.
The clashes happen just a brief period after officials in the United Kingdom stated that followers of the club should not be allowed to be present at the European competition match at the Birmingham team in England in November because of safety concerns.
The local club criticised the match postponement, claiming law enforcement of "getting ready for a conflict, rather than a football match", even during talks in the build-up to the highly-anticipated encounter.
"The shocking incidents near the arena and after the reckless and outrageous judgment not to hold the fixture only show that the law enforcement has assumed command over the game," the team said in a statement.
The other team has not yet commented, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The ruling by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban club followers from the Aston Villa match on November 6 has provoked widespread criticism.
The government officials has later announced it is working to overturn the restriction and investigating what extra measures might be needed to guarantee the fixture can be held without incident.
Villa told their stadium staff that they were not required to attend at the fixture, explaining they acknowledged that some "could be worried".
On earlier in the week, law enforcement stated it endorsed the ban and categorized the game as "concerning" due to reports and previous incidents.
That involved "physical confrontations and bigotry-related acts" among the Dutch team and followers prior to a match in the Dutch capital in November 2024, when numerous persons were taken into custody.
There have been protests at multiple sporting events regarding the war in Gaza, including when the national team faced Norway and the European team in recent qualification games.
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Published48 hours prior
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PublishedAugust 16
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