Tel-Aviv Derby Postponed Due to Serious Unrest
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was filled with haze ahead of the anticipated start
-
Published
The domestic football league local clash between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off before kick-off on Sunday, following what authorities characterized as "crowd trouble and violent riots".
"Numerous of smoke bombs and fireworks were set off," law enforcement stated on online platforms, noting "this is not a sporting event, it represents chaos and major hostilities".
Twelve civilians and several law enforcement members were harmed, officials confirmed, while multiple persons were arrested and numerous others questioned by police.
The disturbances happen just days after officials in the United Kingdom said that followers of the club cannot be permitted to be present at the international tournament game at the English club in the UK next month because of security issues.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the match postponement, claiming authorities of "getting ready for a war, not a game", even during discussions in the lead-up to the highly-anticipated encounter.
"The disturbing incidents near the venue and due to the irresponsible and outrageous decision to cancel the game only show that the law enforcement has seized authority in the football," the team stated officially.
The other team has remained silent, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The ruling by security authorities to prohibit the team's supporters from the English fixture on 6 November has triggered broad condemnation.
The UK government has since said it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and considering what further support might be needed to ensure the match can be hosted safely.
The English club informed their stadium staff that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, saying they understood that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, local authorities stated it endorsed the restriction and designated the match as "high risk" according to intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That involved "serious fights and hate-crime offences" between the Dutch team and their supporters before a match in Amsterdam in late 2024, when over sixty individuals were detained.
There have been protests at multiple games regarding the war in Gaza, for instance when the national team competed against Norway and Italy in current football World Cup qualifiers.
Related topics
- The sport
Additional reports
-
-
Postedrecently
-
-
-
IssuedMid-August
-
