Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Called Off Due to Major Disturbances
The sports venue in the city was filled with smoke ahead of the anticipated start
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Published
The Israeli Premier League local clash between one local team and their city rivals was abandoned ahead of commencement on the weekend, after what authorities characterized as "crowd trouble and violent riots".
"Dozens of smoke bombs and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," law enforcement announced on digital channels, adding "this cannot be considered a football game, it constitutes disorder and significant aggression".
Twelve people and several police personnel were injured, police said, while nine people were taken into custody and 16 detained for questioning.
The unrest occur just a brief period after authorities in the Britain announced that followers of the club should not be allowed to go to the Europa League fixture at Aston Villa in Britain next month because of security issues.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the game abandonment, accusing law enforcement of "getting ready for a conflict, instead of a football match", even during meetings in the build-up to the much-expected match.
"The shocking incidents near the arena and following the ill-considered and scandalous judgment to abandon the fixture only demonstrate that the authorities has assumed command over the game," the team said in a statement.
Their rivals has remained silent, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The judgment by the local safety committee to exclude club followers from the Aston Villa match on the sixth of November has provoked extensive disapproval.
The UK government has subsequently stated it is attempting to reverse the prohibition and exploring what further support might be required to ensure the match can be conducted securely.
The English club informed their security personnel that they could choose not to participate at the game, saying they recognized that some "may have concerns".
On the previous day, law enforcement confirmed it backed the ban and categorized the fixture as "high risk" based on information and previous incidents.
That included "physical confrontations and bigotry-related acts" between the Dutch team and their supporters ahead of a match in the Dutch capital in late 2024, when numerous persons were arrested.
There have been demonstrations at several sporting events regarding the conflict in Gaza, such as when the national team faced Norway and Italy in recent qualification games.
Associated subjects
- Football
Additional reports
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Posted2 days ago
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IssuedMid-August
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