Smoke filled Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv ahead of the scheduled kickoff.
The highly anticipated Israeli Premier League derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off on Sunday before it began, amidst what police officials are characterizing as “public disorder and violent riots.”
Israeli police reported on X that “Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown,” adding, “This is not a football game, this is disorder and serious violence.”
According to police reports, twelve civilians and three officers sustained injuries. Nine individuals were arrested, and sixteen were detained for questioning.
This unrest follows closely on the heels of concerns voiced in the UK, where officials suggested that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should be barred from attending the upcoming Europa League match against Aston Villa in England next month due to safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv has voiced strong criticism of the derby’s cancellation, accusing Israeli police of “preparing for a war, not a sporting event,” including in the discussions leading up to the highly-anticipated match.
“The shocking events outside the stadium and following the reckless and scandalous decision not to hold the match only demonstrate that the Israel Police has taken control of the sport,” Hapoel Tel Aviv stated on X, external.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has yet to issue a comprehensive statement, confining their comments to the confirmation of the match’s cancellation.
The decision by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending the Aston Villa match on November 6 has garnered widespread criticism.
The UK government has since stated its intention to overturn the ban and is actively exploring the additional resources that may be necessary to ensure the fixture can be hosted safely.
Villa informed their matchday stewards that they were not required to work at the game, acknowledging that some “may have concerns”.
West Midlands Police affirmed its support for the ban on Thursday, classifying the fixture as “high risk” based on intelligence and past incidents.
These incidents included “violent clashes and hate-crime offences” between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a match in Amsterdam in November 2024, resulting in over 60 arrests.
The war in Gaza has prompted protests at various sporting events, including recent football World Cup qualifiers involving Israel against Norway and Italy.
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