Tel-Aviv Derby Postponed Following Violent Riots
The sports venue in the city was engulfed by haze ahead of the anticipated kick-off
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The domestic football league derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was abandoned ahead of commencement on the weekend, following what authorities described as "civil unrest and serious disturbances".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," authorities posted on digital channels, adding "this is not a match, it constitutes disorder and serious violence".
A dozen people and several police personnel were hurt, authorities reported, while nine people were taken into custody and sixteen detained for questioning.
The clashes occur just a short time after representatives in the Britain announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be allowed to go to the international tournament match at Aston Villa in England in November because of public safety worries.
One team criticised the match postponement, alleging law enforcement of "preparing for a battle, not a football match", even during discussions in the lead-up to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The shocking situations around the venue and after the ill-considered and scandalous decision to cancel the match only prove that the law enforcement has seized authority in the football," the team stated officially.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has declined to speak, only acknowledging the game was called off.
The decision by security authorities to ban club followers from the English fixture on the sixth of November has provoked widespread criticism.
The UK government has later announced it is working to overturn the prohibition and investigating what extra measures might be necessary to make certain the match can be held without incident.
Villa informed their stadium staff that they were not required to attend at the match, explaining they understood that some "could be worried".
On earlier in the week, local authorities said it backed the prohibition and designated the match as "concerning" based on reports and past events.
That involved "physical confrontations and hate-crime offences" among Ajax and followers before a fixture in Amsterdam in the previous year, when over sixty individuals were taken into custody.
There have been protests at several sporting events over the situation in Gaza, for instance when the national team competed against the Scandinavian team and Italy in latest football World Cup qualifiers.
Associated subjects
- Soccer
Additional reports
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Released2 days ago
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PublishedAugust 16
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