Tel-Aviv Derby Cancelled After Serious Unrest
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was covered in smoke prior to the scheduled kick-off
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Issued
The domestic football league derby between one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled prior to the start on the weekend, following what authorities labeled as "crowd trouble and major clashes".
"Many of smoke grenades and flares were launched," Israeli police announced on social media, emphasizing "this cannot be considered a match, it constitutes chaos and significant aggression".
Twelve people and three police personnel were hurt, authorities reported, while multiple persons were arrested and sixteen detained for questioning.
The unrest occur just days after officials in the United Kingdom announced that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to attend the international tournament fixture at Aston Villa in the UK in November because of safety concerns.
The local club criticised the derby cancellation, alleging authorities of "gearing up for a conflict, rather than a game", even during discussions in the preparation to the much-expected fixture.
"The shocking incidents outside the arena and after the reckless and unacceptable decision to cancel the match only prove that the law enforcement has assumed command over the football," Hapoel Tel Aviv said in a statement.
The other team has remained silent, merely stating the fixture was abandoned.
The ruling by the local safety committee to prohibit the team's supporters from the Aston Villa match on 6 November has triggered broad condemnation.
The UK government has later announced it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and investigating what additional resources might be needed to guarantee the fixture can be conducted securely.
The English club told their security personnel that they did not have to work at the match, stating they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".
On the previous day, West Midlands Police confirmed it supported the restriction and designated the match as "high risk" due to information and previous incidents.
That included "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" between Ajax and their supporters ahead of a game in the Dutch capital in November 2024, when more than 60 people were detained.
There have been protests at multiple athletic competitions regarding the conflict in Gaza, including when the national team played the Scandinavian team and Italy in latest qualification games.
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ReleasedAugust 16
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