Tel Aviv Derby Postponed Due to Serious Unrest
Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv was covered in smoke prior to the planned beginning
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The Israeli Premier League rivalry match between one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned ahead of kick-off on Sunday, following what police labeled as "public disorder and serious disturbances".
"Dozens of smoke bombs and flares were set off," authorities announced on digital channels, emphasizing "this cannot be considered a sporting event, it represents unrest and major hostilities".
Twelve civilians and three officers were harmed, officials confirmed, while multiple persons were detained and numerous others detained for questioning.
The disturbances come just a short time after representatives in the United Kingdom said that supporters of the team should not be allowed to attend the international tournament fixture at the English club in Britain in November because of safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the derby cancellation, alleging Israeli police of "getting ready for a war, not a football match", including during meetings in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited encounter.
"The alarming events outside the venue and after the ill-considered and scandalous decision to abandon the game only prove that the law enforcement has taken control of the sport," the club said in a statement.
Their rivals has declined to speak, merely stating the game was called off.
The ruling by the local safety committee to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa match on November 6 has provoked widespread criticism.
The British authorities has subsequently stated it is attempting to reverse the ban and exploring what additional resources might be necessary to ensure the fixture can be hosted safely.
Villa informed their matchday stewards that they were not required to attend at the fixture, stating they acknowledged that some "may have concerns".
On Thursday, West Midlands Police stated it endorsed the restriction and categorized the fixture as "concerning" according to intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That involved "physical confrontations and bigotry-related acts" among Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans before a fixture in the Dutch capital in the previous year, when over sixty individuals were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at several sporting events over the situation in Gaza, such as when Israel faced Norway and Italy in latest international matches.
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ReleasedAugust 16
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