Tel-Aviv Derby Postponed After Serious Unrest
The sports venue in the city was covered in smoke ahead of the scheduled kick-off
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The domestic football league derby featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was called off ahead of kick-off on the weekend, due to what police characterized as "crowd trouble and major clashes".
"Numerous of smoke grenades and fireworks were thrown," Israeli police stated on online platforms, emphasizing "this cannot be considered a match, this is disorder and significant aggression".
Twelve civilians and several officers were injured, officials confirmed, while multiple persons were taken into custody and sixteen detained for questioning.
The clashes occur just a brief period after officials in the United Kingdom announced that followers of the club cannot be permitted to be present at the international tournament match at the English club in Britain next month because of public safety worries.
The local club censured the game abandonment, alleging law enforcement of "preparing for a war, instead of a game", including during meetings in the lead-up to the highly-anticipated match.
"The shocking situations around the arena and due to the ill-considered and unacceptable decision not to hold the game only prove that the Israel Police has seized authority in the football," Hapoel Tel Aviv said in a statement.
The other team has declined to speak, except to confirm the game was called off.
The decision by security authorities to ban the team's supporters from the Birmingham game on the sixth of November has provoked broad condemnation.
The UK government has since said it is seeking to cancel the restriction and considering what additional resources might be required to make certain the match can be hosted safely.
Villa informed their security personnel that they did not have to work at the game, stating they recognized that some "may have concerns".
On earlier in the week, law enforcement confirmed it supported the restriction and classified the fixture as "potentially dangerous" according to intelligence and previous incidents.
That encompassed "violent clashes and bigotry-related acts" between the Dutch team and their supporters prior to a game in the Dutch capital in November 2024, when more than 60 people were detained.
There have been protests at several sporting events over the situation in Gaza, including when Israel faced Norway and Italy in recent international matches.
Associated subjects
- Football
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Releasedrecently
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IssuedAugust 16
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