Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Following Serious Unrest
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was filled with smoke prior to the scheduled kick-off
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The Israeli Premier League rivalry match involving one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled before commencement on Sunday, after what law enforcement labeled as "civil unrest and serious disturbances".
"Dozens of smoke bombs and flares were launched," authorities announced on social media, emphasizing "this isn't a sporting event, this is chaos and major hostilities".
Twelve civilians and several officers were harmed, police said, while several individuals were taken into custody and numerous others questioned by police.
The clashes occur just a brief period after authorities in the United Kingdom announced that followers of the club cannot be permitted to attend the European competition game at Aston Villa in Britain in November because of public safety worries.
The local club condemned the derby cancellation, claiming law enforcement of "getting ready for a conflict, instead of a sporting event", even during discussions in the lead-up to the much-expected encounter.
"The alarming incidents around the stadium and due to the ill-considered and scandalous ruling to cancel the match only prove that the authorities has taken control of the sport," Hapoel Tel Aviv stated officially.
Their rivals has not yet commented, only acknowledging the game was called off.
The judgment by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa match on 6 November has provoked broad condemnation.
The British authorities has subsequently stated it is seeking to cancel the restriction and considering what further support might be required to make certain the match can be conducted securely.
Aston Villa notified their matchday stewards that they could choose not to participate at the match, saying they acknowledged that some "might feel uneasy".
On the previous day, law enforcement said it supported the prohibition and designated the game as "high risk" according to information and previous incidents.
That included "physical confrontations and bigotry-related acts" among the Dutch team and their supporters before a fixture in the Dutch capital in late 2024, when more than 60 people were arrested.
There have been protests at various sporting events regarding the situation in Gaza, including when the national team competed against the Scandinavian team and Italy in current international matches.
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Additional reports
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Posted2 days ago
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IssuedMid-August
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