Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Following Major Disturbances
The sports venue in the city was engulfed by haze before the scheduled beginning
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The Israeli Premier League local clash between one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned prior to kick-off on Sunday, after what law enforcement characterized as "public disorder and major clashes".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and flares were launched," Israeli police stated on digital channels, adding "this isn't a sporting event, it constitutes disorder and serious violence".
Twelve individuals and three police personnel were hurt, officials confirmed, while several individuals were detained and 16 questioned by police.
The unrest come just a brief period after authorities in the United Kingdom stated that followers of the club should not be allowed to attend the European competition game at the Birmingham team in Britain in November because of public safety worries.
One team condemned the derby cancellation, alleging Israeli police of "gearing up for a battle, instead of a game", particularly during talks in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited encounter.
"The disturbing events near the venue and due to the irresponsible and unacceptable ruling not to hold the match only prove that the Israel Police has seized authority in the game," the club said in a statement.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, except to confirm the game was called off.
The ruling by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to prohibit the team's supporters from the Aston Villa match on the sixth of November has triggered extensive disapproval.
The UK government has since said it is working to overturn the prohibition and investigating what additional resources might be necessary to guarantee the game can be conducted securely.
The English club notified their stadium staff that they could choose not to participate at the game, stating they acknowledged that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, local authorities said it endorsed the prohibition and designated the match as "concerning" based on intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That included "physical confrontations and hate-crime offences" between the Dutch team and their supporters prior to a game in the Netherlands in late 2024, when over sixty individuals were taken into custody.
There have been protests at various games over the situation in Gaza, including when Israel faced Norway and the European team in current qualification games.
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- Soccer
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Released48 hours prior
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PublishedMid-August
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