Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Cancelled After Serious Unrest
The sports venue in the city was covered in haze before the anticipated beginning
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Published
The Israeli Premier League local clash involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was cancelled ahead of commencement on Sunday, due to what authorities characterized as "public disorder and violent riots".
"Dozens of smoke bombs and fireworks were set off," Israeli police posted on online platforms, noting "this cannot be considered a sporting event, it constitutes disorder and serious violence".
Twelve individuals and three police personnel were harmed, police said, while several individuals were detained and sixteen questioned by police.
The disturbances occur just a short time after authorities in the UK announced that followers of the club should not be allowed to attend the European competition game at Aston Villa in the UK next month because of public safety worries.
One team criticised the match postponement, claiming law enforcement of "getting ready for a conflict, not a sporting event", including during discussions in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The alarming events near the arena and after the irresponsible and unacceptable ruling to abandon the game only demonstrate that the Israel Police has assumed command over the game," the team said in a statement.
The other team has remained silent, merely stating the fixture was abandoned.
The ruling by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to prohibit club followers from the Birmingham game on 6 November has sparked extensive disapproval.
The UK government has since said it is working to overturn the prohibition and exploring what additional resources might be needed to ensure the game can be held without incident.
Villa told their stadium staff that they did not have to work at the fixture, saying they acknowledged that some "may have concerns".
On the previous day, West Midlands Police stated it endorsed the prohibition and designated the game as "concerning" according to intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That involved "physical confrontations and bigotry-related acts" involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a fixture in the Netherlands in late 2024, when over sixty individuals were taken into custody.
There have been protests at various sporting events over the conflict in Gaza, including when the national team competed against Norway and Italy in current qualification games.
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Additional reports
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Released48 hours prior
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IssuedMid-August
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