Tel Aviv Derby Cancelled After Major Disturbances
The sports venue in the city was filled with smoke prior to the scheduled start
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The Israeli Premier League local clash involving one local team and their city rivals was called off before kick-off on Sunday, following what authorities characterized as "public disorder and violent riots".
"Many of smoke devices and pyrotechnic devices were set off," authorities announced on social media, adding "this is not a football game, it represents disorder and significant aggression".
Twelve people and three police personnel were hurt, police said, while nine people were arrested and numerous others questioned by police.
The disturbances happen just a short time after authorities in the Britain announced that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to attend the international tournament match at Aston Villa in England the following month because of security issues.
The local club criticised the match postponement, accusing authorities of "gearing up for a conflict, instead of a game", including during talks in the lead-up to the much-expected match.
"The shocking situations around the venue and following the ill-considered and scandalous ruling to abandon the game only show that the Israel Police has assumed command over the game," Hapoel Tel Aviv said in a statement.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has declined to speak, except to confirm the game was called off.
The ruling by the local safety committee to prohibit the team's supporters from the Aston Villa match on 6 November has sparked broad condemnation.
The British authorities has later announced it is seeking to cancel the ban and investigating what additional resources might be necessary to guarantee the game can be held without incident.
Aston Villa informed their stadium staff that they did not have to work at the game, saying they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, local authorities said it endorsed the restriction and designated the fixture as "high risk" due to reports and previous incidents.
That involved "serious fights and hate-crime offences" among the Dutch team and their supporters ahead of a game in the Netherlands in late 2024, when over sixty individuals were taken into custody.
There have been demonstrations at multiple games over the situation in Gaza, for instance when the national team played Norway and Italy in current qualification games.
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PublishedAugust 16
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