Tel Aviv Derby Cancelled Due to Violent Riots
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was engulfed by haze before the planned beginning
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Issued
The domestic football league derby involving one local team and their city rivals was called off prior to commencement on the weekend, due to what authorities described as "public disorder and violent riots".
"Many of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," law enforcement stated on online platforms, emphasizing "this is not a sporting event, it constitutes unrest and serious violence".
A dozen civilians and several police personnel were harmed, police said, while several individuals were detained and numerous others held for interrogation.
The clashes happen just a short time after representatives in the UK announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans cannot be permitted to attend the Europa League game at Aston Villa in the UK next month because of security issues.
One team censured the derby cancellation, claiming Israeli police of "preparing for a war, instead of a sporting event", even during discussions in the preparation to the much-expected match.
"The alarming incidents outside the arena and after the ill-considered and unacceptable judgment not to hold the match only show that the Israel Police has taken control of the sport," the team announced publicly.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has not yet commented, except to confirm the game was called off.
The ruling by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to exclude club followers from the English fixture on November 6 has triggered broad condemnation.
The government officials has subsequently stated it is working to overturn the ban and exploring what further support might be needed to guarantee the game can be hosted safely.
The English club notified their matchday stewards that they were not required to attend at the fixture, explaining they recognized that some "may have concerns".
On earlier in the week, law enforcement said it supported the prohibition and categorized the fixture as "potentially dangerous" based on reports and earlier occurrences.
That involved "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" between the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a fixture in the Netherlands in November 2024, when more than 60 people were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at several games over the war in Gaza, for instance when the national team played Norway and Italy in recent international matches.
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Released48 hours prior
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PublishedMid-August
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