Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off After Serious Unrest
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was engulfed by smoke before the anticipated start
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The Israeli Premier League rivalry match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was abandoned ahead of kick-off on Sunday, due to what law enforcement described as "public disorder and serious disturbances".
"Numerous of smoke bombs and flares were launched," authorities announced on online platforms, noting "this isn't a sporting event, it constitutes chaos and significant aggression".
Twelve individuals and three law enforcement members were hurt, police said, while several individuals were detained and sixteen held for interrogation.
The disturbances come just a short time after authorities in the UK stated that followers of the club cannot be permitted to be present at the European competition match at Aston Villa in Britain the following month because of safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the game abandonment, accusing Israeli police of "preparing for a war, not a sporting event", including during talks in the preparation to the highly-anticipated match.
"The shocking situations outside the arena and after the reckless and outrageous ruling not to hold the match only show that the authorities has assumed command over the football," the team stated officially.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has not yet commented, only acknowledging the game was called off.
The ruling by the local safety committee to ban the team's supporters from the Birmingham game on 6 November has sparked extensive disapproval.
The government officials has later announced it is attempting to reverse the ban and investigating what extra measures might be needed to guarantee the match can be hosted safely.
The English club informed their security personnel that they did not have to work at the match, explaining they acknowledged that some "may have concerns".
On the previous day, law enforcement said it supported the restriction and designated the fixture as "high risk" according to intelligence and previous incidents.
That encompassed "serious fights and hate-crime offences" involving Ajax and followers before a fixture in Amsterdam in November 2024, when numerous persons were arrested.
There have been protests at several games regarding the situation in Gaza, for instance when the national team faced the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest qualification games.
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Published2 days ago
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IssuedAugust 16
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