Tel-Aviv Derby Called Off Due to Serious Unrest
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was filled with haze prior to the planned beginning
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The domestic football league derby featuring one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned prior to the start on Sunday, after what law enforcement characterized as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and flares were thrown," authorities announced on online platforms, noting "this is not a match, it constitutes disorder and major hostilities".
A dozen individuals and three law enforcement members were hurt, officials confirmed, while several individuals were taken into custody and 16 held for interrogation.
The unrest come just days after officials in the United Kingdom stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans cannot be permitted to be present at the European competition game at the English club in Britain the following month because of safety concerns.
The local club censured the match postponement, claiming Israeli police of "getting ready for a war, not a sporting event", even during talks in the lead-up to the highly-anticipated fixture.
"The disturbing situations near the venue and after the reckless and outrageous judgment not to hold the fixture only demonstrate that the Israel Police has assumed command over the sport," the team said in a statement.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has declined to speak, merely stating the fixture was abandoned.
The ruling by security authorities to exclude the team's supporters from the English fixture on November 6 has provoked broad condemnation.
The British authorities has since said it is attempting to reverse the restriction and considering what additional resources might be necessary to make certain the match can be hosted safely.
The English club informed their security personnel that they did not have to work at the game, stating they understood that some "could be worried".
On Thursday, law enforcement said it backed the ban and designated the match as "potentially dangerous" based on information and earlier occurrences.
That involved "violent clashes and bigotry-related acts" among Ajax and followers before a game in the Dutch capital in late 2024, when numerous persons were detained.
There have been rallies at several athletic competitions concerning the situation in Gaza, such as when Israel competed against Norway and the European team in latest international matches.
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Publishedrecently
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IssuedAugust 16
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