Tel-Aviv Derby Cancelled After Major Disturbances
The sports venue in the city was engulfed by haze prior to the planned start
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The domestic football league derby between one local team and their city rivals was called off prior to the start on Sunday, following what police labeled as "civil unrest and serious disturbances".
"Dozens of smoke bombs and fireworks were launched," Israeli police announced on social media, emphasizing "this is not a match, this is chaos and significant aggression".
A dozen individuals and three officers were harmed, police said, while nine people were arrested and sixteen detained for questioning.
The clashes come just days after officials in the UK stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ought to be banned to attend the Europa League match at the Birmingham team in Britain in November because of security issues.
One team criticised the derby cancellation, accusing authorities of "preparing for a war, rather than a game", even during talks in the build-up to the much-expected encounter.
"The alarming events near the venue and after the ill-considered and scandalous ruling to abandon the match only prove that the law enforcement has taken control of the game," the club stated officially.
Their rivals has declined to speak, merely stating the match was cancelled.
The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Birmingham game on November 6 has triggered broad condemnation.
The British authorities has since said it is seeking to cancel the ban and exploring what additional resources might be necessary to guarantee the game can be held without incident.
The English club informed their stadium staff that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, explaining they recognized that some "could be worried".
On the previous day, West Midlands Police confirmed it endorsed the restriction and classified the game as "concerning" based on intelligence and past events.
That involved "physical confrontations and bigotry-related acts" between Ajax and their supporters before a match in Amsterdam in the previous year, when more than 60 people were detained.
There have been rallies at various athletic competitions over the war in Gaza, such as when the national team played the Scandinavian team and the European team in current football World Cup qualifiers.
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Posted2 days ago
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PublishedMid-August
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