Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Cancelled Following Violent Riots
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was filled with smoke ahead of the planned start
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The domestic football league rivalry match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled prior to the start on the weekend, due to what authorities characterized as "public disorder and major clashes".
"Dozens of smoke grenades and flares were launched," law enforcement posted on online platforms, adding "this cannot be considered a football game, it represents chaos and serious violence".
Twelve individuals and multiple law enforcement members were injured, authorities reported, while nine people were arrested and sixteen held for interrogation.
The clashes come just days after authorities in the United Kingdom announced that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be allowed to be present at the international tournament match at the Birmingham team in Britain next month because of public safety worries.
One team censured the match postponement, claiming Israeli police of "preparing for a battle, rather than a football match", particularly during meetings in the preparation to the much-expected fixture.
"The alarming situations near the stadium and following the irresponsible and outrageous ruling not to hold the match only prove that the Israel Police has seized authority in the football," the team said in a statement.
The other team has declined to speak, except to confirm the game was called off.
The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban the team's supporters from the English fixture on 6 November has triggered broad condemnation.
The UK government has later announced it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and exploring what extra measures might be necessary to make certain the fixture can be hosted safely.
Aston Villa told their stadium staff that they could choose not to participate at the match, stating they understood that some "may have concerns".
On the previous day, law enforcement confirmed it supported the prohibition and classified the match as "concerning" based on information and past events.
That involved "serious fights and bigotry-related acts" among the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a match in Amsterdam in the previous year, when more than 60 people were taken into custody.
There have been rallies at multiple athletic competitions regarding the situation in Gaza, such as when Israel faced the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest international matches.
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