Tel Aviv Derby Called Off Due to Major Disturbances
Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv was covered in haze before the planned beginning
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The Israeli Premier League derby involving one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled prior to the start on Sunday, after what authorities described as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances".
"Many of smoke bombs and flares were thrown," authorities posted on online platforms, noting "this cannot be considered a football game, it represents chaos and serious violence".
A dozen people and several officers were injured, police said, while multiple persons were detained and 16 questioned by police.
The unrest happen just days after representatives in the Britain announced that followers of the club ought to be banned to go to the international tournament fixture at Aston Villa in England the following month because of safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the game abandonment, alleging Israeli police of "getting ready for a battle, not a game", even during discussions in the build-up to the much-expected match.
"The shocking events around the arena and due to the irresponsible and unacceptable ruling to cancel the match only prove that the law enforcement has assumed command over the game," Hapoel Tel Aviv said in a statement.
Their rivals has remained silent, merely stating the match was cancelled.
The ruling by the local safety committee to exclude club followers from the Aston Villa match on the sixth of November has provoked extensive disapproval.
The government officials has subsequently stated it is seeking to cancel the ban and exploring what extra measures might be necessary to ensure the game can be hosted safely.
Aston Villa told their security personnel that they did not have to work at the match, explaining they understood that some "might feel uneasy".
On the previous day, West Midlands Police said it supported the prohibition and classified the fixture as "high risk" due to reports and previous incidents.
That encompassed "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ahead of a match in Amsterdam in November 2024, when more than 60 people were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at various athletic competitions regarding the situation in Gaza, such as when Israel competed against the Scandinavian team and Italy in latest international matches.
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PublishedAugust 16
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