🔗 Share this article Tel Aviv Local Rivalry Postponed After Serious Unrest The sports venue in Tel Aviv was covered in smoke before the scheduled start Published 22:27 BST on October 19, 2025 Modified moments ago The Israeli Premier League rivalry match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned ahead of the start on Sunday, after what law enforcement characterized as "crowd trouble and violent riots". "Numerous of smoke bombs and pyrotechnic devices were launched," Israeli police announced on digital channels, noting "this isn't a football game, it constitutes disorder and major hostilities". A dozen individuals and three officers were hurt, authorities reported, while multiple persons were arrested and 16 questioned by police. The clashes occur just a short time after authorities in the United Kingdom stated that followers of the club cannot be permitted to attend the international tournament game at the Birmingham team in the UK in November because of security issues. The local club criticised the match postponement, accusing authorities of "preparing for a war, instead of a football match", including during talks in the lead-up to the highly-anticipated fixture. "The disturbing events around the venue and after the irresponsible and unacceptable decision to abandon the match only prove that the law enforcement has assumed command over the sport," the club said in a statement. Maccabi Tel Aviv has remained silent, only acknowledging the match was cancelled. The ruling by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to exclude Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the English fixture on the sixth of November has triggered broad condemnation. The British authorities has since said it is seeking to cancel the ban and considering what further support might be required to ensure the fixture can be held without incident. Aston Villa notified their security personnel that they were not required to attend at the game, stating they recognized that some "could be worried". On Thursday, local authorities said it backed the prohibition and categorized the game as "high risk" due to information and earlier occurrences. That involved "serious fights and hate-crime offences" involving the Dutch team and followers prior to a fixture in Amsterdam in November 2024, when numerous persons were arrested. There have been demonstrations at several sporting events regarding the conflict in Gaza, such as when the national team faced the Scandinavian team and the European team in latest international matches. Connected themes The sport More on this story Track your team with sports coverage Published 2 days ago Hear the most recent sports show Receive sports updates delivered directly to your smartphone Released Mid-August