🔗 Share this article Tel-Aviv Derby Cancelled Following Major Disturbances The sports venue in the city was filled with haze prior to the anticipated beginning Released 19 October 2025, 22:27 BST Updated 9 minutes ago The Israeli Premier League local clash featuring Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was abandoned ahead of commencement on the weekend, following what authorities described as "public disorder and serious disturbances". "Numerous of smoke devices and flares were set off," law enforcement posted on digital channels, noting "this is not a match, it represents chaos and major hostilities". Twelve individuals and multiple law enforcement members were injured, police said, while nine people were detained and 16 questioned by police. The unrest occur just a short time after officials in the United Kingdom said that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans should not be allowed to attend the Europa League match at Aston Villa in the UK next month because of security issues. Hapoel Tel Aviv censured the derby cancellation, alleging Israeli police of "gearing up for a conflict, rather than a sporting event", particularly during meetings in the build-up to the eagerly-awaited match. "The disturbing situations near the venue and due to the ill-considered and unacceptable judgment to abandon the game only show that the Israel Police has taken control of the football," the team announced publicly. The other team has not yet commented, only acknowledging the fixture was abandoned. The decision by Birmingham's Safety Advisory Group to ban the team's supporters from the English fixture on 6 November has sparked extensive disapproval. The British authorities has subsequently stated it is working to overturn the restriction and investigating what extra measures might be needed to ensure the game can be held without incident. Aston Villa notified their stadium staff that they were not required to attend at the fixture, saying they acknowledged that some "may have concerns". On Thursday, law enforcement stated it supported the restriction and classified the game as "high risk" according to intelligence and past events. That included "violent clashes and bigotry-related acts" involving the Dutch team and followers prior to a game in the Netherlands in November 2024, when over sixty individuals were detained. There have been rallies at various athletic competitions regarding the war in Gaza, such as when the national team played the Scandinavian team and Italy in recent international matches. Related topics Football Further coverage Support your side with sports coverage Released 2 days ago Listen to the latest sports show Get football news sent straight to your mobile device Issued August 16