Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed Due to Major Disturbances
Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv was engulfed by smoke before the scheduled start
-
Released
The Israeli Premier League rivalry match featuring one local team and their city rivals was abandoned prior to commencement on Sunday, due to what authorities described as "public disorder and violent riots".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were set off," authorities announced on online platforms, adding "this isn't a sporting event, it constitutes chaos and serious violence".
Twelve individuals and three police personnel were injured, police said, while nine people were taken into custody and sixteen questioned by police.
The disturbances come just days after officials in the Britain announced that supporters of the team cannot be permitted to be present at the international tournament fixture at the English club in England the following month because of public safety worries.
Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned the game abandonment, alleging law enforcement of "getting ready for a conflict, instead of a game", even during talks in the build-up to the highly-anticipated fixture.
"The shocking situations outside the stadium and due to the ill-considered and outrageous judgment to abandon the fixture only prove that the Israel Police has seized authority in the game," the team announced publicly.
Their rivals has not yet commented, except to confirm the match was cancelled.
The judgment by the local safety committee to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Birmingham game on November 6 has triggered broad condemnation.
The UK government has subsequently stated it is working to overturn the ban and considering what extra measures might be necessary to make certain the match can be hosted safely.
Villa notified their security personnel that they did not have to work at the game, stating they acknowledged that some "could be worried".
On Thursday, West Midlands Police said it backed the prohibition and designated the game as "high risk" due to intelligence and previous incidents.
That encompassed "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" between the Dutch team and their supporters prior to a game in the Netherlands in the previous year, when over sixty individuals were arrested.
There have been rallies at multiple sporting events regarding the situation in Gaza, for instance when the national team faced the Scandinavian team and Italy in recent football World Cup qualifiers.
Associated subjects
- Football
-
-
Published2 days ago
-
-
-
ReleasedMid-August
-
