Tel-Aviv Derby Called Off After Violent Riots
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was covered in haze ahead of the planned kick-off
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The Israeli Premier League rivalry match featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled before commencement on the weekend, after what authorities described as "civil unrest and major clashes".
"Many of smoke bombs and fireworks were set off," Israeli police posted on digital channels, adding "this is not a sporting event, this is unrest and significant aggression".
A dozen individuals and several police personnel were hurt, police said, while nine people were taken into custody and sixteen detained for questioning.
The clashes come just a short time after authorities in the Britain announced that followers of the club ought to be banned to be present at the European competition match at the English club in Britain the following month because of security issues.
One team criticised the game abandonment, alleging law enforcement of "gearing up for a war, instead of a sporting event", including during meetings in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The shocking events around the stadium and due to the ill-considered and outrageous judgment to abandon the fixture only show that the Israel Police has assumed command over the football," the club announced publicly.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, merely stating the game was called off.
The judgment by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to prohibit club followers from the Birmingham game on November 6 has triggered widespread criticism.
The UK government has subsequently stated it is attempting to reverse the restriction and investigating what extra measures might be necessary to make certain the match can be hosted safely.
The English club notified their security personnel that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, explaining they recognized that some "could be worried".
On earlier in the week, West Midlands Police said it supported the ban and classified the match as "concerning" based on intelligence and past events.
That encompassed "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" among the Dutch team and followers ahead of a match in the Dutch capital in late 2024, when over sixty individuals were arrested.
There have been protests at several athletic competitions over the situation in Gaza, including when Israel competed against Norway and the European team in latest qualification games.
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Published48 hours prior
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Published16 August
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