Tel Aviv Derby Cancelled After Violent Riots
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was filled with haze prior to the anticipated kick-off
-
Issued
The Israeli Premier League local clash involving one local team and their city rivals was abandoned ahead of commencement on Sunday, following what law enforcement described as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances".
"Many of smoke grenades and flares were set off," law enforcement posted on digital channels, adding "this cannot be considered a football game, it constitutes unrest and major hostilities".
Twelve people and several law enforcement members were hurt, authorities reported, while nine people were arrested and numerous others questioned by police.
The disturbances happen just a short time after officials in the Britain said that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be allowed to be present at the European competition game at the Birmingham team in Britain in November because of public safety worries.
One team censured the match postponement, alleging law enforcement of "gearing up for a battle, rather than a sporting event", including during talks in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The shocking events near the stadium and due to the ill-considered and outrageous decision not to hold the fixture only demonstrate that the authorities has seized authority in the sport," the team said in a statement.
Their rivals has remained silent, merely stating the game was called off.
The ruling by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban the team's supporters from the Aston Villa match on November 6 has sparked widespread criticism.
The government officials has later announced it is attempting to reverse the restriction and investigating what extra measures might be needed to ensure the game can be held without incident.
The English club informed their security personnel that they were not required to attend at the game, explaining they acknowledged that some "could be worried".
On the previous day, local authorities confirmed it supported the restriction and designated the game as "concerning" according to reports and earlier occurrences.
That encompassed "violent clashes and hate-crime offences" between Ajax and followers ahead of a fixture in Amsterdam in November 2024, when numerous persons were arrested.
There have been protests at multiple athletic competitions over the conflict in Gaza, such as when Israel played Norway and the European team in latest football World Cup qualifiers.
Related topics
- Soccer
Additional reports
-
-
Published48 hours prior
-
-
-
IssuedMid-August
-