Tel Aviv derby called off by police after ‘violent riots’

Prior to Sunday’s kick-off, the Israeli Premier League game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was postponed due to what police described as “public disorder and violent riots.”

Israeli police posted on X, adding that “this is disorder and serious violence,” and that “dozens of smoke grenades and pyrotechnic devices were thrown.”

According to the police, 12 civilians and three officers were hurt, and 16 were detained for questioning and nine were arrested.

In the run-up to the highly anticipated game, Hapoel Tel Aviv criticized the derby cancellation, accusing Israeli police of “preparing for a war, not a sporting event.”

The shocking events that occurred outside the stadium and the reckless and scandalous decision not to play the game only show that Israel Police have taken control of the game, according to Hapoel Tel Aviv’s statement on X.

Only to confirm that the game was canceled, Maccabi Tel Aviv has yet to comment.

The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) in Birmingham’s decision to forbid Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from the Aston Villa game on November 6 has sparked widespread criticism.

Since then, the UK government has stated that it is working to overturn the ban and is looking into possible additional resources to make sure the event can be hosted safely.

Villa claimed to have no obligations to their matchday attendants and that they were aware that some “may have concerns.”

West Midlands Police said on Thursday that it supported the ban and that, based on intelligence and previous incidents, it regarded the fixture as “high risk.”

That included “violent clashes and hate crimes” between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans prior to a game in Amsterdam in November 2024, when more than 60 people were detained.