Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Following Serious Unrest
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was covered in smoke ahead of the scheduled kick-off
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The Israeli Premier League local clash between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was called off ahead of kick-off on the weekend, after what law enforcement described as "crowd trouble and major clashes".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were set off," law enforcement announced on social media, adding "this cannot be considered a match, it constitutes disorder and significant aggression".
A dozen civilians and three police personnel were injured, authorities reported, while multiple persons were arrested and 16 held for interrogation.
The disturbances happen just a brief period after officials in the UK said that followers of the club cannot be permitted to be present at the Europa League game at the English club in England in November because of public safety worries.
The local club censured the derby cancellation, alleging Israeli police of "gearing up for a battle, rather than a game", even during discussions in the build-up to the highly-anticipated encounter.
"The alarming incidents near the venue and following the reckless and scandalous ruling not to hold the match only demonstrate that the authorities has assumed command over the sport," the club stated officially.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has not yet commented, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The judgment by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to exclude the team's supporters from the English fixture on November 6 has provoked widespread criticism.
The government officials has later announced it is working to overturn the prohibition and considering what extra measures might be required to guarantee the match can be hosted safely.
The English club told their security personnel that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, stating they understood that some "might feel uneasy".
On the previous day, law enforcement said it backed the prohibition and classified the fixture as "high risk" due to reports and previous incidents.
That included "serious fights and hate-crime offences" involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a game in Amsterdam in the previous year, when numerous persons were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at various athletic competitions over the war in Gaza, for instance when Israel faced the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest qualification games.
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PublishedAugust 16
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