Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Cancelled Following Violent Riots
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was filled with smoke ahead of the scheduled start
-
Issued
The Israeli Premier League derby between one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled before the start on the weekend, after what authorities labeled as "public disorder and serious disturbances".
"Dozens of smoke bombs and pyrotechnic devices were launched," Israeli police posted on digital channels, adding "this cannot be considered a sporting event, it represents disorder and significant aggression".
Twelve people and three police personnel were harmed, officials confirmed, while nine people were detained and numerous others questioned by police.
The disturbances happen just a short time after officials in the United Kingdom announced that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to attend the European competition game at Aston Villa in Britain the following month because of public safety worries.
Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the game abandonment, claiming Israeli police of "getting ready for a battle, instead of a game", particularly during meetings in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The alarming events outside the venue and after the irresponsible and scandalous decision to cancel the match only prove that the Israel Police has taken control of the football," the team stated officially.
The other team has remained silent, merely stating the fixture was abandoned.
The decision by the local safety committee to prohibit club followers from the Aston Villa match on the sixth of November has provoked broad condemnation.
The British authorities has subsequently stated it is working to overturn the restriction and exploring what further support might be necessary to guarantee the fixture can be hosted safely.
Villa notified their matchday stewards that they could choose not to participate at the game, explaining they acknowledged that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, West Midlands Police stated it supported the restriction and classified the match as "high risk" according to reports and previous incidents.
That involved "physical confrontations and hate-crime offences" involving the Dutch team and their supporters ahead of a match in Amsterdam in November 2024, when numerous persons were arrested.
There have been protests at several athletic competitions over the conflict in Gaza, for instance when Israel competed against Norway and Italy in latest football World Cup qualifiers.
Related topics
- The sport
-
-
Released2 days ago
-
-
-
Issued16 August
-
