Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Cancelled After Violent Riots
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was engulfed by haze ahead of the planned kick-off
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The domestic football league rivalry match involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled prior to kick-off on Sunday, following what police described as "crowd trouble and violent riots".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and fireworks were thrown," authorities stated on social media, noting "this is not a match, this is chaos and significant aggression".
Twelve civilians and multiple police personnel were harmed, authorities reported, while multiple persons were taken into custody and sixteen questioned by police.
The unrest come just days after representatives in the UK announced that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to attend the Europa League game at the English club in the UK the following month because of security issues.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the derby cancellation, alleging Israeli police of "gearing up for a battle, instead of a sporting event", including during meetings in the lead-up to the highly-anticipated match.
"The disturbing events near the stadium and after the irresponsible and unacceptable ruling not to hold the game only demonstrate that the law enforcement has assumed command over the game," the team stated officially.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has declined to speak, except to confirm the match was cancelled.
The judgment by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban club followers from the English fixture on November 6 has provoked extensive disapproval.
The government officials has since said it is attempting to reverse the prohibition and considering what additional resources might be needed to guarantee the game can be hosted safely.
Villa informed their matchday stewards that they were not required to attend at the fixture, explaining they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".
On Thursday, law enforcement confirmed it backed the ban and classified the match as "potentially dangerous" according to reports and earlier occurrences.
That involved "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" 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 several athletic competitions concerning the conflict in Gaza, for instance when Israel competed against the Scandinavian team and Italy in current international matches.
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Posted2 days ago
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Published16 August
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