Tel-Aviv Derby Called Off After Major Disturbances

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

The Israeli Premier League local clash involving Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off ahead of commencement on the weekend, following what police characterized as "crowd trouble and major clashes".

"Many of smoke devices and flares were thrown," law enforcement announced on social media, noting "this cannot be considered a match, it constitutes unrest and serious violence".

A dozen people and three police personnel were hurt, officials confirmed, while several individuals were detained and sixteen questioned by police.

The unrest happen just a brief period after representatives in the UK announced that followers of the club should not be allowed to be present at the international tournament game at the Birmingham team in England the following month because of public safety worries.

The local club censured the derby cancellation, accusing law enforcement of "gearing up for a war, not a sporting event", including during meetings in the build-up to the much-expected fixture.

"The disturbing events around the arena and after the ill-considered and scandalous ruling to cancel the fixture only prove that the authorities has taken control of the football," Hapoel Tel Aviv said in a statement.

The other team has declined to speak, except to confirm the match was cancelled.

The ruling by the local safety committee to exclude club followers from the Birmingham game on November 6 has triggered extensive disapproval.

The British authorities has since said it is seeking to cancel the prohibition and investigating what additional resources might be required to guarantee the match can be conducted securely.

Aston Villa told their security personnel that they did not have to work at the fixture, explaining they understood that some "could be worried".

On the previous day, law enforcement said it supported the restriction and classified the match as "high risk" based on reports and earlier occurrences.

That encompassed "serious fights and bigotry-related acts" between Ajax and their supporters before a fixture in Amsterdam in November 2024, when numerous persons were taken into custody.

There have been rallies at multiple games concerning the conflict in Gaza, such as when the national team played Norway and Italy in latest football World Cup qualifiers.

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