Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed After Serious Unrest
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was covered in smoke ahead of the planned start
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The domestic football league local clash featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned prior to the start on the weekend, following what police labeled as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances".
"Many of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were set off," authorities announced on social media, emphasizing "this is not a football game, it represents chaos and significant aggression".
A dozen individuals and several officers were hurt, officials confirmed, while several individuals were arrested and 16 detained for questioning.
The clashes occur just days after representatives in the Britain stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ought to be banned to go to the Europa League fixture at Aston Villa in the UK in November because of public safety worries.
One team condemned the derby cancellation, alleging authorities of "preparing for a battle, not a game", particularly during discussions in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited encounter.
"The shocking events around the venue and due to the ill-considered and unacceptable ruling not to hold the game only demonstrate that the law enforcement has taken control of the football," the team stated officially.
The other team has remained silent, except to confirm the match was cancelled.
The judgment by security authorities to exclude the team's supporters from the Aston Villa match on the sixth of November has triggered broad condemnation.
The UK government has subsequently stated it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and investigating what extra measures might be required to ensure the game can be hosted safely.
Villa notified their security personnel that they were not required to attend at the match, stating they recognized that some "could be worried".
On earlier in the week, law enforcement confirmed it endorsed the ban and classified the match as "potentially dangerous" due to reports and previous incidents.
That encompassed "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a fixture in the Netherlands in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were arrested.
There have been rallies at several games regarding the situation in Gaza, for instance when Israel played the Scandinavian team and Italy in recent football World Cup qualifiers.
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Published2 days ago
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PublishedAugust 16
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