Tel Aviv Derby Called Off Following Major Disturbances
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was filled with haze ahead of the scheduled kick-off
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The Israeli Premier League derby between one local team and their city rivals was cancelled before commencement on Sunday, after what law enforcement characterized as "crowd trouble and violent riots".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and flares were launched," authorities stated on online platforms, adding "this is not a football game, it represents disorder and serious violence".
A dozen civilians and several law enforcement members were injured, authorities reported, while several individuals were detained and sixteen detained for questioning.
The unrest happen just a brief period after authorities in the Britain announced that followers of the club cannot be permitted to go to the Europa League fixture at Aston Villa in Britain next month because of safety concerns.
The local club censured the game abandonment, accusing Israeli police of "gearing up for a war, instead of a football match", including during discussions in the lead-up to the much-expected fixture.
"The disturbing situations near the venue and after the ill-considered and outrageous decision to cancel the match only show that the Israel Police has assumed command over the football," Hapoel Tel Aviv announced publicly.
The other team has remained silent, merely stating the fixture was abandoned.
The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to exclude club followers from the Aston Villa match on November 6 has provoked extensive disapproval.
The UK government has since said it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and investigating what additional resources might be required to make certain the fixture can be hosted safely.
The English club notified their stadium staff that they were not required to attend at the game, stating they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".
On Thursday, local authorities stated it supported the prohibition and classified the match as "concerning" due to reports and past events.
That included "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" between the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a fixture in the Netherlands in late 2024, when more than 60 people were detained.
There have been protests at multiple sporting events over the conflict in Gaza, including when Israel competed against the Scandinavian team and the European team in current qualification games.
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IssuedMid-August
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