Tel-Aviv Local Rivalry Cancelled After Major Disturbances

• Published
  October 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM BST

The Israeli Premier League local clash involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and their city rivals was cancelled before kick-off on Sunday, following what law enforcement characterized as "crowd trouble and serious disturbances".

"Many of smoke devices and flares were thrown," authorities announced on digital channels, adding "this is not a match, it constitutes unrest and serious violence".

A dozen individuals and multiple officers were harmed, police said, while nine people were taken into custody and sixteen detained for questioning.

The disturbances come just days after officials in the Britain said that followers of the club ought to be banned to go to the international tournament game at the English club in England in November because of safety concerns.

Hapoel Tel Aviv criticised the game abandonment, alleging law enforcement of "getting ready for a war, not a sporting event", including during discussions in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited encounter.

"The shocking events around the arena and due to the ill-considered and outrageous judgment not to hold the game only demonstrate that the Israel Police has taken control of the sport," Hapoel Tel Aviv announced publicly.

Maccabi Tel Aviv has declined to speak, merely stating the match was cancelled.

The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to prohibit Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Birmingham game on 6 November has provoked widespread criticism.

The British authorities has subsequently stated it is attempting to reverse the restriction and investigating what additional resources might be necessary to ensure the match can be conducted securely.

Aston Villa informed their matchday stewards that they were not required to attend at the fixture, stating they recognized that some "may have concerns".

On earlier in the week, local authorities stated it supported the ban and designated the match as "concerning" based on intelligence and previous incidents.

That involved "violent clashes and hate-crime offences" involving Ajax and their supporters ahead of a game in the Netherlands in late 2024, when over sixty individuals were arrested.

There have been rallies at several athletic competitions over the situation in Gaza, for instance when the national team competed against the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest international matches.

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