Tel-Aviv Derby Cancelled Following Major Disturbances
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was covered in smoke before the anticipated start
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The domestic football league derby featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned before commencement on Sunday, following what police characterized as "civil unrest and violent riots".
"Dozens of smoke devices and pyrotechnic devices were set off," Israeli police posted on digital channels, noting "this cannot be considered a sporting event, this is disorder and major hostilities".
Twelve individuals and three police personnel were injured, police said, while nine people were taken into custody and 16 detained for questioning.
The unrest happen just a short time after authorities in the UK announced that supporters of the team ought to be banned to be present at the European competition match at the Birmingham team in the UK in November because of security issues.
Hapoel Tel Aviv censured the derby cancellation, accusing authorities of "getting ready for a conflict, not a game", including during discussions in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The alarming situations near the venue and due to the reckless and scandalous decision to cancel the match only prove that the law enforcement has seized authority in the game," the club said in a statement.
Their rivals has not yet commented, except to confirm the game was called off.
The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the English fixture on 6 November has provoked extensive disapproval.
The government officials has since said it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and exploring what extra measures might be needed to ensure the fixture can be held without incident.
The English club told their security personnel that they were not required to attend at the match, explaining they acknowledged that some "might feel uneasy".
On Thursday, law enforcement stated it backed the ban and classified the match as "concerning" according to intelligence and previous incidents.
That involved "violent clashes and bigotry-related acts" between the Dutch team and their supporters before a fixture in the Dutch capital in the previous year, when more than 60 people were arrested.
There have been rallies at multiple games over the conflict in Gaza, for instance when Israel faced Norway and the European team in current qualification games.
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Released2 days ago
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PublishedAugust 16
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