Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Following Serious Unrest
The sports venue in the city was filled with smoke ahead of the planned kick-off
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Issued
The Israeli Premier League rivalry match between one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled before commencement on Sunday, following what law enforcement labeled as "civil unrest and major clashes".
"Many of smoke bombs and fireworks were thrown," authorities announced on social media, adding "this isn't a football game, this is disorder and major hostilities".
Twelve individuals and multiple law enforcement members were harmed, authorities reported, while nine people were taken into custody and sixteen detained for questioning.
The unrest occur just a brief period after representatives in the United Kingdom announced that supporters of the team should not be allowed to go to the European competition game at Aston Villa in Britain in November because of security issues.
One team criticised the match postponement, alleging law enforcement of "preparing for a battle, instead of a sporting event", particularly during talks in the preparation to the much-expected match.
"The disturbing incidents outside the arena and following the irresponsible and scandalous judgment to abandon the match only demonstrate that the Israel Police has seized authority in the football," the club announced publicly.
The other team has remained silent, merely stating the fixture was abandoned.
The decision by the local safety committee to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa match on 6 November has provoked widespread criticism.
The UK government has later announced it is seeking to cancel the ban and exploring what further support might be required to guarantee the fixture can be conducted securely.
The English club notified their security personnel that they were not required to attend at the fixture, saying they acknowledged that some "could be worried".
On the previous day, law enforcement said it supported the prohibition and categorized the match as "concerning" based on reports and previous incidents.
That included "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" among the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a fixture in the Dutch capital in the previous year, when more than 60 people were taken into custody.
There have been demonstrations at multiple games concerning the conflict in Gaza, for instance when the national team faced Norway and the European team in current qualification games.
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Published48 hours prior
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PublishedMid-August
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