Tel-Aviv Derby Postponed Due to Violent Riots
Bloomfield Stadium in the city was engulfed by smoke before the scheduled kick-off
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The Israeli Premier League local clash between one local team and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off before the start on Sunday, after what law enforcement described as "crowd trouble and major clashes".
"Numerous of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," authorities stated on social media, emphasizing "this is not a match, it represents unrest and serious violence".
A dozen individuals and several officers were injured, authorities reported, while multiple persons were taken into custody and numerous others questioned by police.
The unrest happen just a short time after representatives in the United Kingdom announced that followers of the club should not be allowed to go to the Europa League game at Aston Villa in Britain in November because of public safety worries.
One team criticised the derby cancellation, alleging Israeli police of "gearing up for a battle, not a sporting event", including during meetings in the preparation to the eagerly-awaited match.
"The disturbing events outside the stadium and following the ill-considered and scandalous judgment to cancel the match only prove that the authorities has assumed command over the football," the team said in a statement.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, only acknowledging the match was cancelled.
The decision by security authorities to prohibit the team's supporters from the Aston Villa match on 6 November has provoked extensive disapproval.
The government officials has since said it is attempting to reverse the restriction and considering what additional resources might be needed to make certain the game can be hosted safely.
Aston Villa notified their security personnel that they could choose not to participate at the match, saying they recognized that some "may have concerns".
On earlier in the week, local authorities said it supported the prohibition and categorized the match as "high risk" according to reports and previous incidents.
That involved "violent clashes and hate-crime offences" between the Dutch team and followers before a match in the Dutch capital in the previous year, when more than 60 people were arrested.
There have been rallies at several games regarding the situation in Gaza, such as when the national team played the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest qualification games.
Associated subjects
- Soccer
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Postedrecently
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ReleasedMid-August
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