Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Due to Major Disturbances
The sports venue in the city was engulfed by smoke before the anticipated start
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The domestic football league rivalry match featuring one local team and their city rivals was cancelled before the start on Sunday, after what authorities described as "public disorder and violent riots".
"Many of smoke devices and flares were thrown," Israeli police posted on digital channels, emphasizing "this cannot be considered a match, this is chaos and serious violence".
A dozen civilians and several officers were hurt, authorities reported, while several individuals were taken into custody and numerous others held for interrogation.
The unrest happen just a short time after authorities in the Britain said that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ought to be banned to be present at the Europa League fixture at Aston Villa in England next month because of public safety worries.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the game abandonment, accusing law enforcement of "getting ready for a battle, rather than a sporting event", including during discussions in the preparation to the highly-anticipated encounter.
"The disturbing events around the arena and after the reckless and scandalous judgment to abandon the game only prove that the authorities has taken control of the football," Hapoel Tel Aviv announced publicly.
The other team has declined to speak, except to confirm the fixture was abandoned.
The ruling by the local safety committee to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa match on November 6 has sparked broad condemnation.
The government officials has later announced it is attempting to reverse the prohibition and exploring what extra measures might be necessary to guarantee the game can be hosted safely.
The English club informed their matchday stewards that they were not required to attend at the game, explaining they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, law enforcement said it backed the restriction and designated the match as "potentially dangerous" according to information and previous incidents.
That involved "physical confrontations and hate-crime offences" between the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a game in Amsterdam in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were detained.
There have been protests at multiple sporting events concerning the war in Gaza, for instance when Israel competed against the Scandinavian team and Italy in recent football World Cup qualifiers.
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