Tel-Aviv Derby Postponed After Major Disturbances
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was filled with smoke prior to the anticipated start
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Published
The domestic football league derby featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was cancelled before kick-off on Sunday, after what authorities labeled as "crowd trouble and major clashes".
"Dozens of smoke devices and fireworks were launched," law enforcement stated on digital channels, adding "this isn't a sporting event, this is unrest and serious violence".
A dozen people and three police personnel were injured, police said, while nine people were detained and sixteen detained for questioning.
The clashes occur just a short time after representatives in the United Kingdom stated that supporters of the team ought to be banned to attend the international tournament fixture at the Birmingham team in the UK the following month because of safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the game abandonment, accusing Israeli police of "gearing up for a war, not a game", including during discussions in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited fixture.
"The shocking incidents around the stadium and after the ill-considered and unacceptable decision to cancel the match only demonstrate that the law enforcement has seized authority in the football," the team announced publicly.
The other team has remained silent, except to confirm the fixture was abandoned.
The judgment by the local safety committee to exclude the team's supporters from the Birmingham game on November 6 has triggered widespread criticism.
The UK government has subsequently stated it is seeking to cancel the restriction and investigating what further support might be needed to make certain the game can be held without incident.
Villa informed their stadium staff that they did not have to work at the match, explaining they acknowledged that some "might feel uneasy".
On the previous day, West Midlands Police stated it backed the restriction and designated the game as "potentially dangerous" according to information and past events.
That involved "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" involving the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a match in Amsterdam in the previous year, when more than 60 people were arrested.
There have been demonstrations at various athletic competitions concerning the conflict in Gaza, such as when Israel competed against Norway and Italy in recent football World Cup qualifiers.
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Released48 hours prior
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ReleasedMid-August
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