Tel-Aviv Derby Cancelled After Violent Riots
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was engulfed by haze ahead of the planned start
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The domestic football league rivalry match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was cancelled ahead of kick-off on the weekend, due to what law enforcement labeled as "civil unrest and serious disturbances".
"Many of smoke grenades and fireworks were launched," Israeli police posted on social media, adding "this is not a football game, it constitutes disorder and major hostilities".
Twelve civilians and several police personnel were harmed, authorities reported, while nine people were taken into custody and 16 questioned by police.
The clashes come just a brief period after representatives in the United Kingdom stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be allowed to go to the international tournament match at Aston Villa in Britain next month because of safety concerns.
One team criticised the derby cancellation, accusing Israeli police of "getting ready for a battle, not a sporting event", even during talks in the preparation to the much-expected fixture.
"The shocking events near the arena and following the ill-considered and scandalous judgment not to hold the game only prove that the authorities has assumed command over the sport," the club said in a statement.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has not yet commented, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The ruling by the local safety committee to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the English fixture on 6 November has triggered widespread criticism.
The government officials has subsequently stated it is attempting to reverse the prohibition and considering what further support might be required to make certain the game can be conducted securely.
The English club told their matchday stewards that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, explaining they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".
On the previous day, local authorities said it backed the prohibition and designated the match as "potentially dangerous" due to intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That encompassed "serious fights and bigotry-related acts" involving the Dutch team and followers ahead of a fixture in the Netherlands in November 2024, when numerous persons were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at multiple athletic competitions concerning the conflict in Gaza, such as when Israel faced the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest international matches.
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Additional reports
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Posted48 hours prior
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IssuedAugust 16
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