The sports venue in Tel Aviv was engulfed by smoke before the planned beginning
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Released
The domestic football league local clash featuring one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned ahead of the start on the weekend, after what law enforcement described as "public disorder and serious disturbances".
"Many of smoke bombs and flares were set off," authorities announced on digital channels, adding "this cannot be considered a match, this is disorder and significant aggression".
Twelve people and multiple law enforcement members were hurt, officials confirmed, while nine people were taken into custody and numerous others held for interrogation.
The unrest happen just days after officials in the UK announced that supporters of the team should not be allowed to be present at the Europa League game at the English club in Britain the following month because of safety concerns.
Hapoel Tel Aviv censured the derby cancellation, alleging Israeli police of "getting ready for a war, not a football match", particularly during talks in the build-up to the highly-anticipated match.
"The alarming situations near the stadium and following the reckless and unacceptable ruling not to hold the game only demonstrate that the law enforcement has assumed command over the football," the club said in a statement.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has declined to speak, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The judgment by security authorities to exclude the team's supporters from the English fixture on the sixth of November has provoked widespread criticism.
The government officials has since said it is attempting to reverse the prohibition and exploring what further support might be needed to guarantee the match can be held without incident.
Aston Villa told their matchday stewards that they could choose not to participate at the fixture, saying they acknowledged that some "could be worried".
On the previous day, law enforcement said it backed the restriction and classified the match as "potentially dangerous" according to reports and earlier occurrences.
That encompassed "violent clashes and discrimination incidents" involving the Dutch team and their supporters prior to a match in the Dutch capital in November 2024, when numerous persons were detained.
There have been rallies at various games over the conflict in Gaza, for instance when Israel faced Norway and the European team in latest international matches.
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Released2 days ago
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PublishedMid-August
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