Tel Aviv Derby Postponed After Major Disturbances
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was engulfed by haze ahead of the scheduled kick-off
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The Israeli Premier League rivalry match involving one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off ahead of the start on the weekend, after what police characterized as "civil unrest and serious disturbances".
"Dozens of smoke devices and flares were set off," law enforcement announced on digital channels, emphasizing "this cannot be considered a football game, it represents chaos and significant aggression".
A dozen civilians and several police personnel were injured, police said, while several individuals were detained and numerous others detained for questioning.
The unrest happen just a short time after officials in the Britain stated that supporters of the team ought to be banned to be present at the European competition fixture at the Birmingham team in Britain the following month because of security issues.
One team condemned the derby cancellation, accusing law enforcement of "preparing for a war, not a sporting event", even during discussions in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited fixture.
"The disturbing incidents around the venue and after the irresponsible and unacceptable judgment not to hold the fixture only prove that the law enforcement has taken control of the football," the team stated officially.
Their rivals has remained silent, merely stating the game was called off.
The judgment by the local safety committee to prohibit club followers from the Birmingham game on November 6 has provoked extensive disapproval.
The UK government has subsequently stated it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and investigating what further support might be necessary to ensure the match can be conducted securely.
Villa told their security personnel that they did not have to work at the match, explaining they acknowledged that some "may have concerns".
On Thursday, local authorities said it supported the ban and classified the match as "high risk" due to intelligence and previous incidents.
That involved "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" involving Ajax and their supporters prior to a game in the Netherlands in November 2024, when numerous persons were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at various sporting events concerning the war in Gaza, for instance when the national team competed against Norway and Italy in current football World Cup qualifiers.
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Published48 hours prior
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ReleasedAugust 16
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