Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off Due to Serious Unrest
The sports venue in the city was engulfed by haze prior to the planned start
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The domestic football league local clash between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was abandoned ahead of the start on the weekend, after what law enforcement characterized as "civil unrest and violent riots".
"Numerous of smoke bombs and fireworks were thrown," law enforcement posted on digital channels, emphasizing "this isn't a football game, it represents disorder and serious violence".
Twelve people and three law enforcement members were hurt, police said, while nine people were detained and 16 questioned by police.
The clashes come just days after officials in the UK stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ought to be banned to be present at the Europa League fixture at Aston Villa in the UK next month because of security issues.
Hapoel Tel Aviv censured the match postponement, alleging authorities of "gearing up for a war, rather than a football match", even during meetings in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The shocking situations outside the arena and following the irresponsible and scandalous judgment to abandon the fixture only demonstrate that the law enforcement has seized authority in the football," the club stated officially.
The other team has declined to speak, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The judgment by security authorities to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the English fixture on 6 November has sparked broad condemnation.
The UK government has since said it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and exploring what extra measures might be needed to ensure the game can be held without incident.
The English club told their stadium staff that they did not have to work at the match, saying they acknowledged that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, West Midlands Police said it backed the prohibition and classified the fixture as "concerning" according to intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That encompassed "violent clashes and bigotry-related acts" between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a match in the Netherlands in late 2024, when over sixty individuals were detained.
There have been protests at various athletic competitions regarding the war in Gaza, including when Israel faced the Scandinavian team and Italy in current football World Cup qualifiers.
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Published16 August
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