Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Following Major Disturbances
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was engulfed by haze ahead of the anticipated kick-off
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Published
The Israeli Premier League local clash featuring one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned prior to the start on Sunday, after what authorities characterized as "crowd trouble and major clashes".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," Israeli police stated on online platforms, noting "this cannot be considered a football game, it represents unrest and significant aggression".
Twelve individuals and several police personnel were injured, officials confirmed, while nine people were taken into custody and 16 detained for questioning.
The clashes come just days after officials in the United Kingdom stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ought to be banned to be present at the international tournament game at Aston Villa in England in November because of public safety worries.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the match postponement, alleging authorities of "gearing up for a conflict, not a football match", even during discussions in the preparation to the highly-anticipated fixture.
"The disturbing incidents outside the venue and following the reckless and outrageous judgment not to hold the fixture only demonstrate that the law enforcement has seized authority in the game," the team stated officially.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The decision by security authorities to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the English fixture on November 6 has triggered broad condemnation.
The UK government has since said it is seeking to cancel the ban and investigating what additional resources might be necessary to make certain the match can be conducted securely.
Villa notified their stadium staff that they could choose not to participate at the match, explaining they recognized that some "may have concerns".
On earlier in the week, law enforcement confirmed it backed the ban and designated the game as "concerning" according to information and earlier occurrences.
That included "violent clashes and hate-crime offences" involving the Dutch team and followers prior to a fixture in the Netherlands in the previous year, when numerous persons were taken into custody.
There have been demonstrations at multiple games over the conflict in Gaza, including when Israel faced the Scandinavian team and the European team in recent international matches.
Associated subjects
- Football
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Published48 hours prior
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Issued16 August
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