Tel Aviv Derby Cancelled Following Major Disturbances
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was filled with haze ahead of the scheduled start
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The Israeli Premier League local clash between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was abandoned ahead of kick-off on the weekend, after what police described as "civil unrest and violent riots".
"Many of smoke bombs and pyrotechnic devices were launched," Israeli police posted on digital channels, adding "this is not a football game, this is unrest and major hostilities".
Twelve civilians and three police personnel were injured, authorities reported, while nine people were detained and numerous others held for interrogation.
The unrest come just days after officials in the United Kingdom announced that supporters of the team should not be allowed to go to the international tournament game at the Birmingham team in Britain the following month because of security issues.
One team criticised the game abandonment, accusing law enforcement of "gearing up for a war, not a football match", particularly during discussions in the preparation to the highly-anticipated match.
"The alarming situations near the arena and following the irresponsible and unacceptable judgment to cancel the match only demonstrate that the law enforcement has assumed command over the game," the team announced publicly.
Their rivals has not yet commented, merely stating the fixture was abandoned.
The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa match on 6 November has triggered broad condemnation.
The government officials has subsequently stated it is seeking to cancel the ban and exploring what additional resources might be necessary to guarantee the match can be hosted safely.
The English club told their matchday stewards that they did not have to work at the game, stating they recognized that some "could be worried".
On Thursday, law enforcement confirmed it endorsed the prohibition and designated the match as "potentially dangerous" based on information and earlier occurrences.
That encompassed "physical confrontations and bigotry-related acts" among Ajax and followers before a fixture in the Netherlands in late 2024, when numerous persons were arrested.
There have been protests at multiple athletic competitions regarding the war in Gaza, such as when the national team played Norway and Italy in latest football World Cup qualifiers.
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Posted48 hours prior
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ReleasedAugust 16
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