Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Cancelled After Major Disturbances
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was engulfed by smoke prior to the scheduled beginning
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The domestic football league derby involving one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned ahead of kick-off on Sunday, following what law enforcement characterized as "civil unrest and major clashes".
"Many of smoke devices and fireworks were launched," authorities stated on online platforms, noting "this cannot be considered a sporting event, this is disorder and major hostilities".
A dozen people and three police personnel were harmed, police said, while nine people were taken into custody and numerous others questioned by police.
The clashes happen just days after officials in the UK stated that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to attend the international tournament game at the English club in the UK next month because of safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the match postponement, alleging Israeli police of "getting ready for a battle, instead of a sporting event", even during meetings in the lead-up to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The alarming events outside the stadium and due to the irresponsible and unacceptable ruling to cancel the fixture only demonstrate that the authorities has taken control of the football," the club announced publicly.
Their rivals has remained silent, merely stating the game was called off.
The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban club followers from the Birmingham game on the sixth of November has sparked extensive disapproval.
The government officials has later announced it is seeking to cancel the restriction and exploring what additional resources might be needed to guarantee the game can be hosted safely.
The English club informed their matchday stewards that they did not have to work at the match, saying they understood that some "may have concerns".
On earlier in the week, local authorities confirmed it supported the restriction and designated the fixture as "potentially dangerous" according to intelligence and past events.
That included "violent clashes and bigotry-related acts" involving Ajax and followers before a fixture in Amsterdam in late 2024, when more than 60 people were detained.
There have been demonstrations at multiple athletic competitions over the war in Gaza, including when the national team faced the Scandinavian team and the European team in current international matches.
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- Soccer
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Released48 hours prior
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PublishedAugust 16
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