Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off Following Major Disturbances
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was covered in smoke prior to the planned start
-
Published
The Israeli Premier League derby featuring one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off ahead of kick-off on the weekend, due to what police characterized as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances".
"Many of smoke bombs and flares were set off," Israeli police announced on online platforms, emphasizing "this is not a sporting event, it represents disorder and serious violence".
A dozen people and several police personnel were injured, authorities reported, while multiple persons were arrested and numerous others questioned by police.
The clashes occur just a short time after officials in the UK stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ought to be banned to go to the Europa League match at Aston Villa in Britain next month because of safety concerns.
The local club condemned the derby cancellation, alleging Israeli police of "getting ready for a war, rather than a game", including during meetings in the build-up to the highly-anticipated encounter.
"The alarming events around the venue and following the ill-considered and scandalous judgment not to hold the match only prove that the Israel Police has taken control of the game," Hapoel Tel Aviv announced publicly.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has not yet commented, merely stating the game was called off.
The judgment by security authorities to ban club followers from the English fixture on November 6 has sparked extensive disapproval.
The government officials has later announced it is attempting to reverse the prohibition and exploring what further support might be necessary to make certain the match can be conducted securely.
The English club told their matchday stewards that they did not have to work at the match, saying they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".
On the previous day, law enforcement stated it backed the prohibition and categorized the game as "concerning" according to intelligence and past events.
That included "physical confrontations and hate-crime offences" between the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a match in the Dutch capital in the previous year, when more than 60 people were taken into custody.
There have been demonstrations at several sporting events concerning the conflict in Gaza, such as when Israel competed against the Scandinavian team and the European team in recent qualification games.
Connected themes
- Football
-
-
Published48 hours prior
-
-
-
Issued16 August
-
