Tel Aviv Derby Postponed Following Serious Unrest
The sports venue in Tel Aviv was covered in smoke before the anticipated start
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The domestic football league local clash between one local team and their city rivals was cancelled prior to commencement on Sunday, following what police labeled as "public disorder and major clashes".
"Many of smoke bombs and pyrotechnic devices were thrown," authorities stated on social media, noting "this isn't a football game, it constitutes chaos and serious violence".
A dozen people and three law enforcement members were injured, authorities reported, while multiple persons were arrested and 16 detained for questioning.
The clashes come just days after authorities in the UK stated that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ought to be banned to be present at the international tournament fixture at the English club in Britain the following month because of security issues.
One team condemned the derby cancellation, accusing law enforcement of "getting ready for a conflict, instead of a sporting event", including during meetings in the lead-up to the much-expected fixture.
"The shocking incidents outside the venue and due to the reckless and outrageous decision not to hold the match only show that the Israel Police has seized authority in the game," the club said in a statement.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned.
The judgment by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to exclude club followers from the Aston Villa match on November 6 has sparked extensive disapproval.
The government officials has since said it is working to overturn the ban and investigating what extra measures might be required to ensure the game can be hosted safely.
The English club notified their security personnel that they could choose not to participate at the match, saying they recognized that some "might feel uneasy".
On earlier in the week, West Midlands Police said it endorsed the prohibition and categorized the fixture as "high risk" due to intelligence and earlier occurrences.
That involved "physical confrontations and discrimination incidents" among the Dutch team and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a fixture in the Dutch capital in the previous year, when more than 60 people were arrested.
There have been protests at multiple games over the conflict in Gaza, including when the national team played the Scandinavian team and Italy in recent qualification games.
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ReleasedAugust 16
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