Tel Aviv Derby Postponed Following Violent Riots
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was covered in haze prior to the anticipated kick-off
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The Israeli Premier League local clash featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned ahead of the start on the weekend, due to what law enforcement described as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances".
"Numerous of smoke grenades and flares were set off," Israeli police stated on digital channels, noting "this cannot be considered a sporting event, this is unrest and serious violence".
Twelve civilians and several police personnel were harmed, police said, while several individuals were taken into custody and sixteen held for interrogation.
The disturbances come just a brief period after representatives in the UK announced that supporters of the team should not be allowed to attend the Europa League game at Aston Villa in Britain next month because of safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the match postponement, accusing authorities of "gearing up for a war, instead of a football match", including during meetings in the build-up to the much-expected fixture.
"The disturbing situations around the venue and due to the reckless and scandalous ruling to abandon the game only prove that the law enforcement has seized authority in the football," Hapoel Tel Aviv announced publicly.
The other team has declined to speak, merely stating the match was cancelled.
The decision by security authorities to prohibit club followers from the English fixture on 6 November has provoked broad condemnation.
The British authorities has since said it is seeking to cancel the ban and investigating what additional resources might be necessary to make certain the fixture can be conducted securely.
The English club informed their stadium staff that they did not have to work at the game, saying they acknowledged that some "could be worried".
On the previous day, local authorities said it supported the ban and categorized the match as "potentially dangerous" based on reports and previous incidents.
That included "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" among Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a fixture in the Netherlands in late 2024, when numerous persons were taken into custody.
There have been protests at several athletic competitions regarding the situation in Gaza, including when the national team competed against the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest football World Cup qualifiers.
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Published16 August
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