Tel-Aviv Derby Cancelled Due to Violent Riots
The sports venue in the city was filled with haze ahead of the planned beginning
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Issued
The domestic football league derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was abandoned ahead of the start on the weekend, following what law enforcement characterized as "public disorder and violent riots".
"Numerous of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were launched," Israeli police stated on social media, adding "this isn't a football game, it constitutes chaos and significant aggression".
Twelve people and several officers were injured, officials confirmed, while nine people were detained and sixteen questioned by police.
The disturbances come just a short time after representatives in the Britain said that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans cannot be permitted to go to the Europa League match at the Birmingham team in Britain in November because of public safety worries.
One team condemned the derby cancellation, claiming law enforcement of "getting ready for a conflict, not a sporting event", even during meetings in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited encounter.
"The alarming situations around the arena and after the reckless and outrageous decision to abandon the fixture only demonstrate that the Israel Police has assumed command over the football," the team stated officially.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, except to confirm the match was cancelled.
The judgment by security authorities to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa match on the sixth of November has triggered broad condemnation.
The British authorities has subsequently stated it is working to overturn the prohibition and investigating what further support might be necessary to guarantee the fixture can be conducted securely.
The English club informed their stadium staff that they could choose not to participate at the game, saying they understood that some "could be worried".
On the previous day, local authorities said it endorsed the prohibition and classified the match as "potentially dangerous" due to intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That involved "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" among Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a match in Amsterdam in November 2024, when more than 60 people were arrested.
There have been protests at various athletic competitions over the war in Gaza, for instance when the national team played the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest qualification games.
Associated subjects
- The sport
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Released48 hours prior
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IssuedMid-August
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