Tel Aviv Derby Called Off After Violent Riots
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was covered in haze ahead of the anticipated start
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The Israeli Premier League derby featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was abandoned prior to the start on the weekend, after what law enforcement characterized as "civil unrest and serious disturbances".
"Dozens of smoke bombs and flares were set off," law enforcement stated on online platforms, adding "this is not a football game, it constitutes disorder and major hostilities".
Twelve people and multiple police personnel were harmed, officials confirmed, while several individuals were detained and sixteen questioned by police.
The unrest happen just a brief period after authorities in the Britain said that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be allowed to attend the international tournament game at the Birmingham team in England the following month because of security issues.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the match postponement, claiming law enforcement of "gearing up for a conflict, rather than a football match", even during talks in the lead-up to the much-expected match.
"The disturbing situations around the arena and after the ill-considered and unacceptable decision not to hold the match only demonstrate that the law enforcement has taken control of the football," the team stated officially.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has not yet commented, except to confirm the game was called off.
The judgment by security authorities to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa match on the sixth of November has sparked widespread criticism.
The government officials has since said it is working to overturn the restriction and exploring what extra measures might be needed to ensure the game can be held without incident.
The English club notified their matchday stewards that they were not required to attend at the match, stating they understood that some "could be worried".
On the previous day, local authorities said it backed the ban and designated the match as "high risk" due to intelligence and past events.
That encompassed "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" between Ajax and followers ahead of a game in the Netherlands in the previous year, when numerous persons were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at various games over the war in Gaza, for instance when the national team competed against Norway and Italy in recent qualification games.
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Publishedrecently
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IssuedMid-August
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